A recent study published in Psychological Science found that engaging in proenvironmental behaviors—such as cleaning up litter, reducing waste, or using sustainable transportation—boosts happiness and a sense of meaning. Remarkably, the effect was just as strong as that of engaging in activities specifically designed to improve well-being, such as hobbies or self-care.
Sustainable living is often seen as a sacrifice—for instance, giving up convenience, spending more money, and enduring discomfort. However, psychological theories suggest that prosocial and moral actions contribute to happiness. Additionally, previous studies have indicated a correlation between proenvironmental behavior and subjective well-being, although causal evidence has been lacking.
To address this gap, researcher Michael Prinzing from Baylor University sought to investigate whether engaging in proenvironmental behaviors increases subjective well-being.
The research involved two studies. The first tracked 181 adults (aged 18 to 76 years; 61% female) from 14 countries over 10 days. Participants reported their activities and mood multiple times per day through surveys.
The results demonstrated that people felt happier on days when they engaged in sustainable behaviors. The positive effect on well-being was stronger among those with high environmental values, although even participants with low environmental values experienced benefits.
The second study was a controlled experiment involving 545 undergraduate college students (aged 18 to 43 years; 70% female) from the USA. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the proenvironmental group (engaging in three sustainable actions), the fun activity group (completing three enjoyable activities), or the control group (simply tracking their activities).
After two days, participants in both the proenvironmental and fun activity groups reported significantly higher happiness and life satisfaction than those in the control group. Notably, there were no significant differences based on political orientation or environmental concern.
Prinzing concluded, “These findings stand in stark contrast to popular perceptions. Sustainability is often portrayed as onerous and unpleasant, whereas these studies support the opposite conclusion. Yet our findings are very much in line with a long tradition of philosophical theory and a growing body of scientific evidence, each of which suggests that being good is conducive to being well—that is, people flourish when they seek to cultivate virtue and do good in the world.”
Some limitations should be noted. The study was conducted over only a few days, so it is unclear whether the happiness boost is long-lasting. Additionally, some participants might have guessed the study’s purpose, which could have influenced their responses. Future research could explore how consistent sustainable habits impact well-being over months or years.
The study, “Proenvironmental Behavior Increases Subjective Well-Being,” was authored by Michael Prinzing.
