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By Katia Hetter, CNN

(CNN) — The holidays are here, which means you’re probably thinking about gifts — what to buy, whom to give to and how much to spend. Gift-giving is often framed as a source of stress and obligation, but a growing body of research suggests there may also be something beneficial about giving itself.

I have wondered if science supports the idea that it’s better to give than receive, and if so, are there measurable health effects? Does it matter how you give, such as money versus time and big gestures versus small ones? And can giving ever backfire?

I turned to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen, counting on her for some good advice. Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University who previously was Baltimore’s health commissioner. She is done with her holiday shopping for her family and friends.

CNN: Does science really back up the idea that it’s better to give than receive?

Dr. Leana Wen: Science does support that idea, with some key caveats. Research from psychology, neuroscience and public health shows that prosocial behaviors such as giving time, money or support to others are associated with benefits to well-being.

That doesn’t mean that giving is always beneficial or that people should give at the expense of their own needs. But taken together, the evidence suggests that generosity can be good for both emotional and physical health.

CNN: What kinds of health benefits have researchers found?

Wen: A wealth of research links giving and helping behaviors to better mental well-being, including lower rates of depression and anxiety and higher life satisfaction. Surprisingly, the effects also go beyond mental health: Researchers have found associations between prosocial behavior and lower stress hormones, reduced inflammation, better cardiovascular outcomes and longer lifespan.

Notably, a large 2023 JAMA Network Open review looked at 30 studies involving prosocial interventions, which include acts of kindness, charitable giving, community volunteering and helping behaviors. Researchers found improvements in mental well-being, lower depression scores, physical activity and even blood test results

CNN: How does giving affect the brain and body?

Wen: Giving activates reward p

CNN

By Katia Hetter, CNN

(CNN) — The holidays are here, which means you’re probably thinking about gifts — what to buy, whom to give to and how much to spend. Gift-giving is often framed as a source of stress and obligation, but a growing body of research suggests there may also be something beneficial about giving itself.

I have wondered if science supports the idea that it’s better to give than receive, and if so, are there measurable health effects? Does it matter how you give, such as money versus time and big gestures versus small ones? And can giving ever backfire?

I turned to CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen, counting on her for some good advice. Wen is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University who previously was Baltimore’s health commissioner. She is done with her holiday shopping for her family and friends.

CNN: Does science really back up the idea that it’s better to give than receive?

Dr. Leana Wen: Science does support that idea, with some key caveats. Research from psychology, neuroscience and public health shows that prosocial behaviors such as giving time, money or support to others are associated with benefits to well-being.

That doesn’t mean that giving is always beneficial or that people should give at the expense of their own needs. But taken together, the evidence suggests that generosity can be good for both emotional and physical health.

CNN: What kinds of health benefits have researchers found?

Wen: A wealth of research links giving and helping behaviors to better mental well-being, including lower rates of depression and anxiety and higher life satisfaction. Surprisingly, the effects also go beyond mental health: Researchers have found associations between prosocial behavior and lower stress hormones, reduced inflammation, better cardiovascular outcomes and longer lifespan.

Notably, a large 2023 JAMA Network Open review looked at 30 studies involving prosocial interventions, which include acts of kindness, charitable g