Science Has Reached the Truth: Which Brings More Joy, Giving or Receiving?

Which Brings More Joy, Giving or Receiving?

Science Has Reached the Truth: Which Brings More Joy, Giving or Receiving?

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician, assistant professor at George Washington University, and former Baltimore Health Commissioner, addressed a question that has long been debated: "Which brings more happiness: giving or receiving?"

Dr. Wen explained, "Science supports this idea, with important caveats. Research in psychology, neuroscience, and public health shows that positive social behaviors, such as giving time, money, or support to others, are associated with well-being benefits.

" She added, "This doesn't mean that giving is always beneficial or that people should give at the expense of their own needs. But when you look at the evidence taken together, it suggests that generosity can be beneficial for both emotional and physical health."

Dr. Wen said, “A rich body of research links giving and helping behaviors to improved mental health, including lower rates of depression and anxiety and higher life satisfaction. The effects extend beyond mental health as well, with researchers finding associations between positive social behaviors and lower stress hormones, reduced inflammation, improved cardiovascular health outcomes, and increased longevity.”

A large review published in 2023 in JAMA Network Open, which examined 30 studies on positive social interventions such as acts of kindness, charitable donations, community volunteering, and helping behaviors, revealed improvements in psychological well-being, lower depression scores, increased physical activity, and improved blood test results.

Dr. Wen explained, “Giving activates reward pathways in the brain in areas associated with pleasure and social bonding. These actions trigger the release of chemicals like dopamine and endorphins, which are linked to positive feelings.” 

She added: “Another key hormone is oxytocin, which plays a role in regulating stress. Oxytocin can lower blood pressure, reduce stress responses, and promote a sense of social connection.”

She continued: “Over time, repeated activation of these pathways may help explain why generosity is associated with better health, particularly in conditions affected by chronic stress, such as depression and heart disease.

” Wynn explained: “Some early research was observational, meaning that it’s possible that healthier or happier people are simply more likely to give. But more recent studies have used experimental designs that support the causal hypothesis.”

She added: “For example, participants in randomized controlled trials were asked to perform acts of kindness or generosity, which were then compared to control activities. These studies showed a short-term decrease in stress hormones like cortisol, along with improvements in mood and emotional well-being. 

While proving long-term causation is more difficult, the consistency between experimental, biological, and population-level data provides strong evidence that the act of giving itself plays a role.”