The Science of Service

You know the feeling. You pull on your Lions gear, maybe still yawning from the night before or shaking off a long day at the office. But the moment you arrive at a service project, roll up your sleeves and start connecting with others, something shifts. The tiredness fades, your mood lifts and a surge of energy takes over. That’s the “helper’s high” at work.

So what’s physically happening in your body when you help others? We dug into some research to learn more.

The biochemistry of kindness

When you act with kindness — through even the simplest gesture or thoughtful act — your brain releases a rush of “feel-good” chemicals: serotonin to calm, dopamine to delight and oxytocin to connect. So basically, kindness doesn’t just brighten someone else’s day — it lights up your brain, too.

These chemicals can also benefit your body in measurable ways. Researchers are uncovering how the body’s natural responses to kindness influence stress, immunity and overall well-being.

A study led by Stephanie Brown, Ph.D., of Stony Brook University, suggests that when you help or care for others, your brain activates a natural caregiving system that releases oxytocin as well as progesterone.

Oxytocin helps you feel calm and connected while progesterone can help regulate inflammation and support immune function. Together, they help your body stay healthier and more resilient over time.

Heart to heart

When you see how your service impacts someone, you may say it touches your heart. And guess what? It actually does. Science shows that kindness can give your heart health a boost.

“It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, which directly impacts stress levels,” explained Bhawani Ballamudi, M.D., of SSM Health. “Oxytocin releases nitric oxide. Nitric oxide dilates your blood vessels and thereby reduces your blood pressure and improves heart health.”

Kindness also strengthens human connection, a key factor in cardiovascular health.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General’s report, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, called social connection a fundamental human need — as essential as food, water and shelter. And the American Heart Association references research that backs this up.

“Studies show people who are more socially connected can live longer. They are at reduced risk for earlier death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease. Other research shows having poor social relationships is associated with a 29% increased risk for coronary heart disease and a 32% increased risk for stroke.”

The good news: small acts can make a big difference. An international study published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology found that helping others can reduce loneliness, social isolation and social anxiety. The surgeon general’s report describes this as a virtuous cycle.

“Those who are more connected to their communities are more likely to engage in service, and those who are engaged in service are more likely to feel connected to their communities and the individuals in it.”

Mind matters

A recent study from The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Massachusetts Boston found that frequent helping outside the home significantly slows cognitive decline — the gradual loss of thinking skills — in middle-aged and older adults.

Led by Sae Hwang Han, Ph.D., of UT Austin, the team analyzed 20 years of data from more than 30,000 U.S. adults. They found that those who regularly volunteered or offered informal help scored higher in cognitive function and experienced a 15%-20% slower rate of cognitive decline as they aged.

According to Dr. Han, the sooner you incorporate acts of service into your lifestyle, the better.

“Research shows that the benefits of volunteering build over time. Those who begin later in life still see meaningful gains, but the impact is smaller compared to people who start earlier. In other words, the sooner you begin volunteering, the greater the long-term rewards.”

Doctors’ orders

Public health systems are recognizing the power of lifestyle in shaping well-being. In the 1990s, the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) introduced social prescribing — recommending activities like art, exercise and volunteering rather than relying solely on medication to address social and emotional needs. The approach has since spread to several other countries.

But you don’t need a doctor’s note to reap the benefits.

“Research shows that just two to four hours of volunteering each week is enough to produce measurable, meaningful improvements in health,” said Dr. Han. As with any wellness habit — like exercise, good nutrition or quality sleep — the benefits are strongest when it becomes part of daily life. Dr. Han emphasized that consistency is key.

“Many researchers, myself included, view formal volunteering as more beneficial for health than informal helping,” he said. “The reason is structure. Volunteering through an organization typically involves ongoing, regular participation rather than occasional, one-off acts. This consistency makes it more likely to produce lasting health benefits.”