The Impact of a Small Act of Kindness

Jaime DePaolo, MA

Expert Contributor | Compass Counseling and Associates Compass Counseling and Associates

Limerick Living Jan 2026

There’s power in an act of kindness. You may not be aware of the impact you’ve had on someone just through a simple act of kindness. An act of kindness could be a simple gesture, a compliment, an act of service, volunteering, or making a financial contribution. What impact does an act of kindness have? Take a moment to reflect on a time you engaged in an act of kindness or were on the receiving end. Try to remember how it made you feel and how long that impact lasted.

What Does it Mean to Be Other-Focused?

Self-focused kindness is directed towards self, whereas other-focused kindness is kindness towards others. Kindness towards others has been found to be more effective at improving mental health than self-focused kindness (Nelson-Coffey et al. 2021).

Results of a study by Cregg & Cheavens (2023) found that those who engaged in an act of kindness had reduced scores on the Self-Absorption Scale. These results show that there was less focus on what others think and on aspects of themselves that others aren’t aware of. Furthermore, acts of kindness had a greater impact on social connectedness than social activities did. Acts of kindness were actually found to improve satisfaction with life.

Acts of Kindness Improve Mental Health

Engaging in an act of kindness can decrease anxiety, feelings of loneliness, stress, and depression. Trew & Alden (2015) found that acts of kindness decrease avoidance of social situations for socially anxious individuals. The combination of exposure and an act of kindness significantly reduced anxiety in participants. A study by Lee et al. (2024) showed that acts of kindness reduce feelings of loneliness.

What is the experience of being on the receiving end of an act of kindness? Being on the receiving end of an act of kindness feels good. Studies show that mood significantly improves. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2023), a survey found that 90% of those who received an act of kindness felt significantly, somewhat, or a little better. 56% of those on the receiving end felt happy and 51% felt grateful, while 3% felt suspicious, and 3% felt indifferent.

The Benefits of Being Kind

Overall, acts of kindness can have an impact on both the participant and recipient involved. Acts of kindness are shown to improve mental health and mood and decrease anxiety symptoms, stress, depression symptoms, and feelings of loneliness. Doing something kind for another person increases social connectedness and decreases loneliness. Finally, kindness towards others decreases focus on self, what others think, and preoccupation with aspects of themselves that others aren’t aware of.

What Can You Do to Spread Kindness?

Express gratitude
Give a compliment
Offer help
Listen with empathy
Give a tip
Pledge to charity
Volunteer work
Buy an item from someone’s wish list
Buy someone a coffee
Send someone flowers
Send someone a card
Check in on someone
Call a friend
Bring someone food
Pick up litter
Leave a business review
Let someone go in front of you in line
Invite a friend over for dinner
Gift used clothing or toys
Visit a friend, relative, or neighbor

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2023). New Poll: Small Acts of Kindness Make Most Americans Feel Better.

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-poll-small-acts-of-kindness-benefits

Cregg, D. R. & Cheavens, J. S. (2023) Healing through helping: an experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 18(6), 924-941, DOI:10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695

Lee, Y. A., Guo, Y., Li, G., & Chen, F. S. (2024). Prosocial behavior as an antidote to social disconnection: the effects of an acts of kindness intervention on daily social contact and loneliness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(39), 1–24.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00742-x

Nelson-Coffey, S. K., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Schotanus-Dijkstra, M. (2021). Practicing other-focused kindness and self-focused kindness among those at risk for mental illness: results of a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(12).

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741546

Trew, J., & Alden, L. (2015). Kindness reduces avoidance goals in socially anxious individuals.

Motivation & Emotion, 39(6), 892–907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-015-9499-5