Prosocial and Positive Health Behaviors During a Period of Chronic Stress Protect Socioemotional Well-Being

Behavior that helps, supports, or protects others—or prosocial behavior—has emerged as a health-relevant behavior that can promote the giver’s well-being, yet whether prosocial behavior protects against the effects of a major, ongoing chronic stressor warrants further examination. Thus, in the context of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether two types of behaviors—those enacted to prevent the spread of disease to the self and others (positive health behaviors) and those enacted to promote others’ psychological and financial well-being (prosocial behaviors)—might protect well-being over time. Using a longitudinal survey method, 745 participants (M(age) = 62.87 years) reported their engagement in positive health behaviors, prosocial behaviors, and socioemotional well-being (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness) approximately two months into mandated lockdown orders in the USA. Three months later, participants again reported their well-being. Results showed that greater self-reported positive health behaviors (e.g., wearing a facemask, distancing from others) was related to decreased depressive symptoms over time, whereas greater self-reported prosocial behaviors (e.g., donating time or money, thanking an essential worker) was related to decreased loneliness over time. Neither behavior was related to anxiety symptoms. Together, results suggest that both doing things for the benefit of others and engaging in positive health behaviors protects well-being, even during times of chronic stress. Findings are however limited by the use of self-report measures. Future research should use experimental and behavioral approaches beyond self-report to verify findings. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-021-00095-1.