Altruism:A Pathway for Psychological Well-Being

Altruism/selflessness is not an issue of religions and moral teachings alone. Various researches within positive psychology have shed light on the rich potential of altruism for one's health, happiness and well-being. In line with the previous works, this study aims to explore the potential of altruism in enhancing a crucial dimension of psychological well-being: meaning in life. To this end, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) was used along with the Altruism Questionnaire (AQ). Data was collected from 432 participants from two different countries; India (N=216,50% women) and Italy (N=216, 50% women), aged between 30 and 60 (Indian Mage = 44.48, SD = 8.66; Italian Mage = 44.24,SD = 7.73). The sample was balanced for education and profession. Findings show that across cultures a higher perceived level of altruism leads to higher level of presence of meaning. However, there was no corresponding negative correlation to search for meaning, as often found in previous studies. Findings show that altruism is a promising pathway towards psychological well-being, underscoring the need of altruism promotion strategies.