Women make up 68% of the Social and Solidarity Economy workforce and dominate caregiving professions. These are fields in which engagement is vital, and difficulties widespread: a heavy emotional burden, low salaries, etc. However, despite the strain, having an impact on society is still a central driving force for employees, particularly within the SSE. Figures from UpCoop find that 96% of women say it’s important for them to find meaning in their work and be committed to it. But what does that commitment bring them as individuals? Is taking care of others the same as taking care of yourself? Here are some reasons to believe that the value created for society can also benefit individuals.
Reason #1: Boost your happiness
Doesn’t money buy happiness? According to a study from the University of British Columbia, it does! But it all depends on how it is spent. In a 2008 study (that has been replicated since –Ed), researchers first gave several participants envelopes containing either $5 or $20, along with two different instructions: some were to spend the money to treat themselves and buy something, others were to use it to buy someone else a gift. Second, the researchers measured the happiness the people felt. Those who had spent their money on someone else, regardless of how much they had spent, felt more and longer-lasting happiness. And that’s the idea behind “prosocial spending”. Clearly, working 40 hours a week in a job that benefits society as a whole is very different to giving €5 to a friend. But we can hypothesize that, just like the study’s participants, this engagement feels like you are making a difference and boosts self-esteem. By bringing a little happiness to someone else, through a gift, you also do yourself some good. In case any doubt persists: humans are indeed social creatures.
Reason #2: Feel useful, feel aligned
Committing to society and helping other people generates more than just happiness, it brings a sense of alignment. By bringing your values to life, you feel good. This is the “Helper’s High”, an idea from psychology. It’s the feeling of satisfaction and inner coherence you get when you help somebody out. When that happens, the brain activates its reward system (the mesolimbic system) and releases an amazing cocktail of molecules: dopamine, which gives pleasure and motivation; endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and create a slight feeling of euphoria; and finally, oxytocin and vasopressin, which promote social attachment, confidence and empathy, while reducing stress levels. Once again, it’s all about social connection.
Reason #3: Shift focus away from your own problems
Similarly to the “Helper’s High” concept, helping others also allows you to take a step back from your own difficulties. This was demonstrated by a team of researchers led by Christine Rini through the “expressive helping” program, designed for patients with hematological cancers undergoing intense treatment. By combining their thinking about their own journey with time spent writing advice and messages of encouragement for others who had to undergo the same medical procedure, these patients activated the “Helper Therapy Principle”. As they temporarily shifted their focus away from their difficulties and toward their peers, patients experienced a significant decrease in their psychological distress and the severity of their physical symptoms, as well as finding that social bonds were strengthened.
Ultimately, the good we do for others does indeed have a direct impact on our own well-being. However, for this equation to work, the question of resources cannot be ignored. For example, work on the “Helper Therapy Principle” emphasizes the need to be trained in the approach, to reap all the benefits without feeling overwhelmed by other people’s distress. Because when a lack of resources prevents you from doing your job properly with vulnerable people, you may feel frustrated rather than useful. And if the promise of care is still being made, its positive effects on those who provide it may instead fade away.
