World Happiness Report: Kindness enhances well-being despite challenges

The world may seem harsh, but a new report suggests that kindness remains a prevalent force. The world’s population continues to engage in acts of benevolence, such as donating money, volunteering, or performing kind acts for strangers, according to annual World Happiness Report.

The report, compiled in partnership with Gallup, the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, highlights that 70% of people worldwide performed at least one kind act in the last month.

Dr. Felix Cheung, coauthor of the report and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, explained, “That’s a really, really high number. We should just look at that number and feel really good. Seven in 10 people around us have done something nice … in the past month.” Though these acts of kindness have decreased from the surge observed during the Covid-19 pandemic, they still surpass pre-lockdown levels.

The report also underlined the importance of kindness in enhancing both individual and collective happiness. Dr. Lara Aknin, professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, remarked, “Even though the world feels like it’s a pretty difficult place right now, it is nice to know that people are engaging in kind and generous acts.”

Research shows that performing acts of kindness benefits both the giver and the recipient. Ilana Ron-Levey of Gallup pointed out that “acts of generosity predict happiness even more than earning a higher salary.” Aknin’s studies have demonstrated that people who spend money on others rather than themselves report higher levels of happiness, with similar results across countries like South Africa, Uganda, and India.

Despite the prevalence of kindness, the report reveals that many people are overly pessimistic about the generosity of others. The "empathy gap" was illustrated through a survey asking whether people expected a lost wallet to be returned. While the reality often exceeded expectations, there was a significant gap, particularly in the US, where people believed strangers would be less likely to return a wallet. "If we assume the worst of others, it shapes how we interact with the world,” Aknin stated.

However, the report also showed that this empathy gap can be closed. "We’re not asking people to have unreasonably optimistic (expectations)," said Cheung, but developing trust in others can lead to increased happiness. Aknin’s research found that engaging in acts of kindness that involve social connections, choice, and visible impact brings the most fulfilment.

The lack of social connections, particularly eating alone, was also linked to lower well-being, with Ron-Levey adding, “If you’re eating by yourself most of the time, if you don’t have someone that you can rely on in a time of need… it’s going to lead most likely to fewer benevolent acts, which, in turn, affects your happiness.”

Social isolation can hinder happiness, as seen in countries like Finland, where a strong sense of community contributes to their top ranking in happiness.

By Aghakazim Guliyev