Prosocial behavior reliably reduces loneliness: An investigation across two studies

Prosocial behavior, any behavior with the goal of benefiting another person, has been shown to improve mood and boost overall well-being for the individual performing the action as well as the recipient. The purpose of this study was to assess whether prosocial behavior could also reduce state loneliness. To examine this, we conducted two experimental studies to evaluate the effect of different prosocial behaviors on loneliness and associated cognitive and affective measures. In Study 1, we operationalized prosocial behavior as gift giving, and participants (n = 286) were randomly assigned to complete either a gift giving, gift keeping, or neutral control task. In Study 2, prosocial behavior was operationalized as writing a note of appreciation to a close other, and participants (n = 288) were randomly assigned to complete a written note of appreciation to a close other, a written reflection of a time when they received social support in the past, or a neutral control task. Across both studies, prosocial behavior reliably reduced state loneliness and improved mood but was less effective at reducing negative automatic thoughts about the self. Depressive and social anxiety symptoms were explored as possible moderators of the effects of prosocial behavior on outcome measures and were found to be significant moderators in Study 2, but not Study 1. Future directions and implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).