A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reminds us that doing good for others is good for us, too. The research on nearly 13-thousand U.S. adults finds that adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year - or about two hours a week - have a “substantially reduced” risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of physical activity, and an improved sense of well-being later on compared to those who don’t volunteer.
Study authors explain that their results show that volunteerism in older adults doesn’t just strengthen communities, but “enriches our own lives by strengthening our bonds to others, helping us feel a sense of purpose and well-being.” This not only protects us from feeling lonely, depressed, and hopeless, it also reduces our risk of death.
Source: Science Daily