Background

Helping others has been linked to facets of well-being such as meaning and life satisfaction (Akin et al., 2013; Klein, 2017), but less is known about how it contributes to personal fulfillment.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to investigate how helping is related to fulfillment and how this potential link varies by individual characteristics (i.e., identity) and by the type of helping behavior (e.g., public vs. private, spontaneous vs. regular helping).

Method

U.S. adults (N = 294, ages 18-81, 64% male, 36% female) about their identities and about the activities that contribute to their sense of fulfillment.

Results

Some of the key findings were: (a) helping others is similarly or more fulfilling (M = 5.51, SD = 1.44; scores ranged 1-7 with 7 being more fulfilling) than activities such as working (M = 4.37, SD = 1.79), spending time with friends (M = 5.42, SD = 1.45), or engaging in spiritual practices (M = 3.74, SD = 2.20); (b) helping is particularly fulfilling for those who consider helping to be central to their identities (r = .66, p < .001); and, (c) helping is more fulfilling when it is intrinsically rather than extrinsically motivated, t(293)= 10.83, p < .001; when it involves providing emotional support rather than financial support, t(293)= 7.90, p < .001; and, when the recipient is a close loved one rather than a stranger, t(293)= 10.90, p < .001.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that helping others boosts well-being because it allows people to demonstrate qualities that are central to their identity and because it reinforces existing social relationships. The findings also indicate that certain types of helping tend to be more rewarding than others, which is useful for guiding interventions aimed at promoting well-being.