Do Prosocial Behaviors always Increase Well-being? A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Prosocial Behavior on Well-being

Abstract

This paper looks at issues in prosocial behaviors (PB) on well-being (WB). Prosocial behaviors have long played a role in debates around well-being, yet that do prosocial behaviors always increase well-being are not clear-cut. One limitation of previous research is that it typically focuses on the effect about PB on WB, either positively or negatively. This article seeks to untangle this confusion whether PB always increases WB through a review and summary of the relevant literature. The findings indicate that prosocial behaviors to improve well-being are not absolute. These results have important implications for how we study prosocial behaviors on well-being.