390. Performing acts of kindness can improve depression
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Performing acts of kindness can significantly improve depression or anxiety symptoms. In a new study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, researchers at The Ohio State University recruited 122 adults with depression or anxiety symptoms and divided them into three groups. One group engaged in social activities two days per week. A second group recorded their negative thoughts two days each week. The third group performed three kind acts a day for two days out of the week. All three groups showed better mental health after five weeks. But only the kindness group demonstrated substantial gains in social connectedness, or a person’s feeling of belonging. It appears that performing these acts of kindness decrease preoccupation with one’s own thoughts and feelings.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
