How Helping Others Reduces Stress and Increases Happiness

Last Updated on June 1, 2026 by Elizabeth

Stress is something all of us face at times. According to the American Institute of Stress, over 75% of people report significant stress from work, 64% from inflation and cost of living, and over 50% from political climate and news. Stress can arise from many different causes, and can have grave effects on both our physical and mental health.

Impact of Stress on Health

The impacts of stress are quite numerable. Stress can cause:

Chronic stress becomes eve more damaging. As your body is exposed repeatedly to elevated cortisol levels, nearly every process in your body is disrupted. The effects and risks become elevated with chronic and repeated stress.

How Helping Others Reduces Stress

Research has found that helping others can significantly reduce stress in individuals. A 2015 study in the Association for Psychological Science found that helping others helped buffer against stress. Those who helped others didn’t experience a decrease in positive emotions when faced with a stressful day, and a much smaller increase in negative emotions.

Another five-year longitudinal study from 2013 found that individuals who helped others were less likely to die when dealing with stressful situations. More hours of helping were associated with more resiliency.

In February 2026, M. Justin Kim and Sunhae Sul looked at the neural mechanisms of helping others and wellbeing. This study was published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, and found reductions in stress, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. It also found enhancements in positive affect, life satisfaction, and various physiological health markers.

This was observed through the brain’s reward system, offering positive feelings when helping others. Furthermore, empathy networks were activated in the brains of participants.

Ways to Support Others

There are many ways to help others. You don’t need necessarily to do some grand gesture. The small moments of helping others add up. Here are a few simple ways you can begin helping others and reducing your stress.

Support at Home

If you live with a roommate, partner, or family, there are plenty of opportunities to help others at home. Do something that needs to be done without being asked. Take the trash out, make a meal, or clean a room. If there is a clear way you can take something off someone’s plate, do it! It doesn’t have to be huge.

Little Moments of Helping

When out and about, look for ways to be kind to others. Hold the door open for someone when you have the opportunity. Help somebody carry groceries or load their car. Put your shopping cart back where it goes! One of my favorite small acts of kindness is to pick up trash when I pass it on the street.

Donate

We all have things we don’t need, and donating used goods is a great way to help others. Donate your clothing, books, toys, whatever you have! There are always places willing to take things, or you can list them for free on an online marketplace.

Mentor Someone

Whether it’s at work or in your daily life, consider how you can mentor somebody. Offer your knowledge and experience in a way that supports others. Encourage them, and express appreciation when they succeed.

Bonus Tip: Be Mindful

A great way to be more helpful is to really be mindful of the opportunities you have. Pay attention and recognize where you can support others. Generally there are more chances to help others than we realize.