Skip navigation
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp013484zk35v
Title: Shopping for Poverty: Does Helping Others Increase Psychological Well-Being?
Authors: Harwood, Christopher
Advisors: Haushofer, Johannes
Department: Psychology
Class Year: 2016
Abstract: Does helping others make people happier? People often engage in charitable behavior at a cost to themselves, but it is unclear whether helping others increases their subjective well-being. Additionally, those in poverty experience different stressors, like limited cognitive bandwidth and higher risks for mental health problems, than those living in more affluent conditions, and they behave differently in prosocial settings. In this study, I ask participants in an urban food pantry to engage in giving behavior. I measure outcomes through an exit survey assessing subjective well-being across affective and evaluative variables, the participants’ relationship with the food pantry, and self-reported helping behavior. Using ordinary least squares and two stage least squares regressions, the results show no change in well-being for both the intent to treat and the treatment on the treated, but there is an indication of a willingness to perform further acts of benefit. Heterogeneous effects suggest that older participants react positively to the treatment while younger participants react negatively. Alternative explanations, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Extent: 62 pages
URI: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp013484zk35v
Type of Material: Princeton University Senior Theses
Language: en_US
Appears in Collections:Psychology, 1930-2023

Files in This Item:
File SizeFormat 
Harwood_Christopher_Thesis_Final.pdf533.61 kBAdobe PDF    Request a copy


Items in Dataspace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.