Are you an Instructor?
We are challenging students to participate in the #HUSKYKIND challenge this quarter. There is much research that connects being kind and improved mental health. We are asking you to encourage students to participate in this effort by showing this video during class and sharing this link with the students.
Below are some talking points in case you want to incorporate them in your lecture.
What is kindness?
It is an action intended to benefit someone (yourself or someone else).
What are the mental health benefits of kindness to others?
- Helping others helps you feel good
There is evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness.1
Being kind to others can help reduce anxiety.2 Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active.4 This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem.3
- It creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation
Helping others can also help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends and connect with our community.3,4 The human connection between the person being kind and the recipient(s) can help reduce loneliness and isolation.4 The benefits remain the same whether you are kind to a stranger or a loved one.5
- It helps make the world happier – it’s contagious!
Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place, with positive impacts on the giver and the receiver. The benefits of a kind act on the recipient is much greater than the giver imagines it is.6
It may also encourage others to repeat the good deed that they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.7
What are the mental health benefits of self-compassion?
There is abundant research that self-compassion is very beneficial to your wellbeing.8 Therefore, we included some self-compassion items in our list.
References
- Post S. (2014). Altruism, happiness and health: It’s good To Be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 22, 66-77. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4
- Kerr, S.L., O’Donovan, A., & Pepping, C.A. (2014). Can Gratitude and Kindness Interventions Enhance Well-Being in a Clinical Sample? Journal of Happiness Studies,16,17–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9492-1
- Brown, K.M., Hoye, R., & Nicholson, M. (2012). Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, and Social Connectedness as Mediators of the Relationship Between Volunteering and Well-Being. Journal of Social Service Research, 38, 468–483. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2012.687706
- Pilkington, P.D., Windsor, T.D., Crisp, D.A. (2012) Volunteering and subjective well-being in midlife and older adults: The role of supportive social networks. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(2), 249–60. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr154
- Rowland, L., & Curry, O. S. (2019). A range of kindness activities boost happiness. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159, 340-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2018.1469461
- Kumar, A., & Epley, N. (2022, August 1). A little good goes an unexpectedly long way: Underestimating the positive impact of kindness on recipients. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0001271
- Pressman, S.D., Kraft, T.L., & Cross, M.P. (2015). It’s good to do good and receive good: The impact of a ‘pay it forward’ style kindness intervention on giver and receiver well-being. Journal of positive psychology, 10, 293–302. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/17439760.2014.965269
8 Calma-Birling, D., Zelazo, P.D., (2022). A network analysis of high school and college students’ COVID-19-related concerns, self-regulatory skills, and affect. American Psychologist, 77, 727-742. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/amp0001023
Adapted from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/what-are-health-benefits-altruism
Are you a social media coordinator?
Are you a social media coordinator at UW? We will have weekly social media posts you can share to your social media pages to help spread #huskykind.
Huskykind Social Media Kit
Do you just want to spread the word?
If you want to help spread the word through a newsletter or listserv, we suggest the following message:
We are challenging students to participate in the #HUSKYKIND challenge this quarter. There is much research that connects being kind and improved mental health. Please encourage students to participate in this effort by sharing this link with them: https://wellbeing.uw.edu/mental-health/huskykind/
Below are some talking points in case you want to add some of it to what you send.
What is kindness?
It is an action intended to benefit someone (yourself or someone else).
What are the mental health benefits of kindness to others?
- Helping others helps you feel good
There is evidence to suggest that when you help others, it can promote physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness.1
Being kind to others can help reduce anxiety. 2 Helping others can also improve our support networks and encourage us to be more active.4 This, in turn, can improve our self-esteem. 3
- It creates a sense of belonging and reduces isolation
Helping others can also help us feel a sense of belonging, make new friends and connect with our community.3,4 The human connection between the person being kind and the recipient(s) can help reduce loneliness and isolation.4 The benefits remain the same whether you are kind to a stranger or a loved one.5
- It helps make the world happier – it’s contagious!
Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place, with positive impacts on the giver and the receiver. The benefits of a kind act on the recipient is much greater than the giver imagines it is.6
It may also encourage others to repeat the good deed that they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.7
What are the mental health benefits of self-compassion?
There is abundant research that self-compassion is very beneficial to your wellbeing.8 Therefore, we included some self-compassion items in our list.
References
- Post S. (2014). Altruism, happiness and health: It’s good To Be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 22, 66-77. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4
- Kerr, S.L., O’Donovan, A., & Pepping, C.A. (2014). Can Gratitude and Kindness Interventions Enhance Well-Being in a Clinical Sample? Journal of Happiness Studies,16,17–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9492-1
- Brown, K.M., Hoye, R., & Nicholson, M. (2012). Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, and Social Connectedness as Mediators of the Relationship Between Volunteering and Well-Being. Journal of Social Service Research, 38, 468–483. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2012.687706
- Pilkington, P.D., Windsor, T.D., Crisp, D.A. (2012) Volunteering and subjective well-being in midlife and older adults: The role of supportive social networks. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67(2), 249–60. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbr154
- Rowland, L., & Curry, O. S. (2019). A range of kindness activities boost happiness. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159, 340-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2018.1469461
- Kumar, A., & Epley, N. (2022, August 1). A little good goes an unexpectedly long way: Underestimating the positive impact of kindness on recipients. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xge0001271
- Pressman, S.D., Kraft, T.L., & Cross, M.P. (2015). It’s good to do good and receive good: The impact of a ‘pay it forward’ style kindness intervention on giver and receiver well-being. Journal of positive psychology, 10, 293–302. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1080/17439760.2014.965269
8 Calma-Birling, D., Zelazo, P.D., (2022). A network analysis of high school and college students’ COVID-19-related concerns, self-regulatory skills, and affect. American Psychologist, 77, 727-742. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/amp0001023
Adapted from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/what-are-health-benefits-altruism
