Time Spent for Others and Well-Being
Author Information
Author(s): Cho Kyoungmin, Almeida David, Lee Soomi
Primary Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Hypothesis
Does spending time for others impact overall eudaimonic and hedonic well-being differently across sociodemographic groups?
Conclusion
Spending time for others has positive long-term effects on well-being but can lead to negative short-term feelings, especially in men and younger adults.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants who spent more time for others reported higher overall psychological and social well-being at the monthly level.
- At the daily level, spending time for others was associated with more negative affect and stressors.
Takeaway
Helping others can make you feel good in the long run, but sometimes it can also make you feel stressed or sad, especially if you're a man or younger than 56.
Methodology
Participants completed monthly surveys and eight-day diary surveys measuring time spent for others and well-being.
Limitations
The study may not account for all variables affecting well-being and relies on self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
Participants had an average age of 48.27 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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