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According to the results of a recent study, doing a good deed would lead to an improvement in symptoms in a person suffering from depression and anxiety.
Posted in The Journal of Positive Psychologyan American experimental study shows that by showing kindness to others, people suffering from anxiety or depressive disorders showed an improvement in their symptoms.
The course of the experimental study
For their research, David Cregg and Jennifer Cheavens – practicing at Ohio State University – divided the 122 study participants into three groups. These volunteers presented moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and also stress.
Two out of three groups were responsible for cognitive reassessment or planning of social activities. As the researchers point out in their study, these are techniques often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression.
The members of the first group were therefore tasked, for two days a week, with planning social activities. Participants in the second group were required to keep records for at least two days a week. Finally, the members of the third group had to perform three acts of kindness a day, two days a week.
Baking cookies to offer, offering to go for a ride, or leaving notes with words of encouragement were some of the acts of kindness that occurred during this study.
“Doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others can actually help people with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves”explains Jennifer Cheavens, one of the authors of this study.
Rather encouraging results
After being followed for nearly ten weeks, an increase in life satisfaction and a reduction in symptoms of depression were seen in participants in all three groups. Moreover, the members of the third group showed greater improvements than the members of the other two groups (those of the cognitive reassessment).
“Something as simple as helping other people can go beyond other treatments to help heal people with depression and anxiety”said study co-author David Cregg. “These results are encouraging, as they suggest that all three study interventions are effective in reducing distress and improving satisfaction,” added the researcher.
David Cregg, also recalled that “although this study uses CBT techniques, it is not the same experience as going through the full CBT treatment. People who take the full treatment may have better outcomes than participants in this study.”
According to Jennifer Cheavens, “The results also show that even limited exposure to cognitive behavioral therapy in this study may be helpful.”