Showing compassion to others can help reduce depression and increase life satisfaction, say scientists who found that the most disagreeable individuals benefit the greatest.
The most disagreeable individuals, who are also the least likely to be kind, can benefit most from behaving more compassionately, a York University study has found. More than 640 people who were mildly depressed took part in the study which tracked the results of online compassion training.
Researchers from York University in Canada asked the participants to take part in one of three online compassion intervention exercises including a control condition. They were asked to complete their exercise and report back via an online platform every other day for three weeks.
Two months later, disagreeable participants who performed acts of kindness in close relationships showed the greatest reductions in depression and greatest increases in life satisfaction. “As a result of their hostility and lack of cooperation, disagreeable types risk getting rejected or ostracised. There is a lot of conflict in their relationships, and they suffer the consequences,” said a researcher. (PTI)
