Most people know the basics of healthy living that become more important as you grow older: Eat plenty of vegetables, exercise regularly, sleep well, have a social life, limit your alcohol consumption and don’t smoke.
As an economist and social psychologist who study altruism and health, we wondered whether civic engagement might play a role as well.
kAmx? a_aa[ E96 p>6C:42? |65:42= pDD@4:2E:@?[ 2? @C82?:K2E:@? C6AC6D6?E:?8 5@4E@CD[ ?@E65 E92E G@E:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A@=:4JD62C49]2>2\2DD?]@C8^A@=:4J7:?56C^56E2:=^G@E:?8nFC:lTaup|ps@4Tauw~s]I>=\9\cc_]g_d]I>=Qm4@F=5 A@E6?E:2==J 92G6 962=E9 36?67:EDk^2m] $@ H6 4@?5F4E65 2 DEF5J E92E 5:C64E=J E6DE65 E9:D :562i (6 6I2>:?65 H96E96C @=56C p>6C:42?D – k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]46?DFD]8@G^E@A:4D^A@AF=2E:@?^@=56C\28:?8]9E>=QmA6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 ed 2?5 FAk^2m – H9@ G@E6 =:G6 =@?86C E92? ?@?G@E6CD]k^Am
kAm~=56C 25F=ED G@E6 2E 2 9:896C C2E6 E92? J@F?86C 25F=ED :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] x? (:D4@?D:?[ E96 7@4FD @7 @FC DEF5J[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]46?DFD]8@G^=:3C2CJ^AF3=:42E:@?D^a_`a^56>@^Aa_\deaCG]9E>=QmG@E:?8 C2E6 @7 @=56C 25F=EDk^2m :D 6G6? 9:896C]k^Am
kAm(6 FD65 52E2 7C@> E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H=D]H:D4]65F^Qm(:D4@?D:? {@?8:EF5:?2= $EF5Jk^2m[ 2 DEF5J H9:49 92D 7@==@H65 2 C2?5@>=J D6=64E65 D2>A=6 @7 (:D4@?D:? 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E6D D:?46 `hdf] (6 4@>A2C65 E96 =@?8\E6C> 962=E9 @7 @=56C 25F=ED H9@ G@E65 :? E96 a__g AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@? E@ E9@D6 H9@ 5:5 ?@E G@E6 :? E92E 6=64E:@?] &D:?8 @3;64E:G6=J G6C:7:65 G@E:?8 C64@C5D 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^42E2=:DE]FD^52E2^Qmr2E2=:DEk^2m[ H9:49 EC24<D p>6C:42?D’ G@E:?8 3692G:@C[ 2=@?8 H:E9 @77:4:2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^?49D^?5:^:?56I]9E>=Qm}2E:@?2= s62E9 x?56Ik^2m C64@C5D[ H6 7@F?5 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_hb^86C@?3^8328_bcQmG@E6CD H6C6 cdT =6DD =:<6=J E@ 5:6k^2m H:E9:? 7:G6 J62CD 27E6C E96 a__g 6=64E:@?[ bfT =6DD =:<6=J E@ 5:6 `_ J62CD 27E6C E96 6=64E:@?[ 2?5 ahT =6DD =:<6=J E@ 5:6 `d J62CD =2E6C]k^Am
kAm(6 2=D@ 6I2>:?65 G@E:?8 :? E96 a__c 2?5 a_`a AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?D 2?5 7@F?5 E92E E96 C6DF=ED H6C6 DEC@?86C 7@C >@C6 C646?E 6=64E:@?D – E9@D6 96=5 :? a__g 2?5 a_`a – 4@>A2C65 E@ E96 62C=:6C @?6 96=5 :? a__c]k^Am
kAm*@F >2J H@?56C H96E96C E9:D :D ;FDE 3642FD6 962=E9:6C A6@A=6 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ G@E6 :? E96 7:CDE A=246]k^Am
kAmxE’D 62D:6C E@ G@E6 H96? J@F’C6 962=E9J E92? H96? J@F’C6 ?@E[ 3FE E9:D 5@6D ?@E 7F==J 6IA=2:? @FC C6DF=ED] '@E6CD DE:== 925 2 =@H6C C:D< @7 5J:?8 H96? H6 4@?EC@==65 7@C 56>@8C2A9:4 724E@CD DF49 2D 86?56C[ >2C:E2= DE2EFD 2?5 :?4@>6[ @E96C 7@C>D @7 4:G:4 6?8286>6?E DF49 2D G@=F?E66C:?8[ 2?5 2 G@E6C’D 962=E9 DE2EFD AC:@C E@ G@E:?8]k^Am
kAm(6 2=D@ 7@F?5 E92E E9@D6 :? A@@C6C 962=E9 E@ 368:? H:E9 36?67:E65 >@C6 7C@> G@E:?8 `d J62CD =2E6C E92? E9@D6 H9@ 925 366? 962=E9:6C 367@C6 E96J G@E65]k^Am
kAmw6C6’D 2?@E96C 7:?5:?8i w@H D@>6@?6 G@E65 5:5?’E >2EE6C] (96? H6 4@>A2C65 H92E 92AA6?65 E@ @=56C 25F=ED H9@ 42DE E96:C 32==@ED :? A6CD@? E@ E9@D6 H9@ >2:=65 E96:C 32==@ED[ H6 7@F?5 E92E 3@E9 8C@FAD 925 23@FE 2? 6BF2==J =@H6C C:D< @7 5J:?8 @G6C E96 `d\J62C A6C:@5]k^Am
kAmxE 2=D@ 5:5 ?@E >2EE6C H96E96C 2 G@E6C’D AC676CC65 42?5:52E6 H@?] (6 7@F?5 E92E 2=E9@F89 :E 42? 36 DEC6DD7F= H96? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]ADJ?6F6?]a__h]`_]_`gQmE96 42?5:52E6 J@F DFAA@CE =@D6Dk^2m[ E96 A6@A=6 H6 DEF5:65 6IA6C:6?465 D:>:=2C =@?8\E6C> 962=E9 36?67:ED @7 G@E:?8 C682C5=6DD @7 E96:C A@=:E:42= 277:=:2E:@?]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp? @=56C H@>2? 42DED 96C 32==@E]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fba`gh^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_cac\f`\;B=2aI];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjC64El_TarhaTarca__TarabeaU2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m'@E6CD 925 2 =@H6C C:D< @7 5J:?8 H96? E96 C6D62C496CD 4@?EC@==65 7@C 56>@8C2A9:4 724E@CD DF49 2D 86?56C[ >2C:E2= DE2EFD 2?5 :?4@>6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^H@>2?\7:==D\@FE\2\G@E6\3J\>2:=\32==@E\2E\E96\@C2?86\4@F?EJ\?6HD\A9@E@^a`fg`hegbhn25AA@AFAlECF6Qm!2F= w6??6DDJ^p?25@=F G:2 v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am(9J :E >2EE6CDk^9am
kAm$4:6?E:DED 92G6 =@?8 <?@H? E92E A6@A=6 H9@ G@=F?E66C 7@C ?@?AC@7:ED 6IA6C:6?46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__a^hfg`bhcbah`hh]49dQm>2?J 962=E9 36?67:ED[ :?4=F5:?8 2 =@?86C =:76DA2?k^2m]k^Am
kAm'@E:?8 :D[ 2C8F23=J[ 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^a`dgacc_a_hd_bfeQm2? 2=ECF:DE:42==J >@E:G2E65 24Ek^2m] %92E’D 3642FD6 :?5:G:5F2= G@E6CD 2C6 2H2C6 E92E E96:C @?6 G@E6 H:== ?@E 492?86 E96 @FE4@>6 @7 2 ?2E:@?2= 6=64E:@?]k^Am
k9am(92E DE:== :D?’E <?@H?k^9am
kAmx7 J@F 2C6 H@?56C:?8 H9J G@E:?8 AC65:4ED =@H6C >@CE2=:EJ C:D<[ H6==[ D@ 5:5 H6]k^Am
kAm~?6 A@DD:3:=:EJ :D E92E 2D H:E9 @E96C 4:G:4 6?8286>6?E 24E:G:E:6D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2CH@C<D]:?5:2?2A@=:D]:F]65F^:E6>D^7e64`5bg\2e5b\c4b2\24g2\eggddg24d6_gQm:?4=F5:?8 G@=F?E66C:?8k^2m[ G@E:?8 >2J EC:886C A@D:E:G6 3:@=@8:42= C6DA@?D6D E92E DFAA@CE H6==\36:?8] ~E96C C6D62C496CD 92G6 7@F?5 2>A=6 6G:56?46 D9@H:?8 E92E G@=F?E66C:?8 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`dab^y}t&#~$rx]_cg_\ab]a_abQm3@@DE E96 3C2:?’D C6H2C5 DJDE6>k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]D@4D4:>65]a_`g]_a]_``QmC65F46 DEC6DDk^2m 2?5 6G6? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]D@4D4:>65]a_ac]``fd_`QmD=@H D@>6 2DA64ED @7 28:?8k^2m] p=E9@F89 H6 5:5?’E E6DE 7@C E96D6 :? E96 (:D4@?D:? {@?8:EF5:?2= $EF5J[ E96J >2J 96=A 6IA=2:? H9J A6@A=6 H9@ G@E6 E6?5 E@ 92G6 36EE6C 962=E9 @FE4@>6D E92? E9@D6 H9@ 5@?’E]k^Am
kAm'@E:?8 >:89E 2=D@ :>AC@G6 962=E9 E9C@F89 2 D6?D6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]````^;]`db_\ac`d]a__h]_``ha]IQmD6=7\677:424Jk^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^D```_h\_`g\hcdh\bQm4:G:4 5FEJk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ff^a_db`eg_`ff`h`fbQmD@4:2= 4@??64E:@?k^2m[ D:?46 :E :D 3@E9 2? 2=ECF:DE:4 2?5 D92C65 24E:G:EJ]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E96 6I24E 6IA=2?2E:@?D 2C6?’E <?@H?[ DEF5:6D 4@?D:DE6?E=J D9@H 2 =:?< 36EH66? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bf^2__b`d`hQmG@=F?E66C:?8 2?5 2 =@H6C >@CE2=:EJ C:D<k^2m[ H9:49 DF886DED E92E A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? 4:G:4 =:76 – 6G6? D@>6E9:?8 2D D:>A=6 2D 42DE:?8 2 32==@E – >2J 36 8@@5 7@C J@FC 962=E9[ =:<6 8@:?8 7@C 2 CF? @C 62E:?8 G686E23=6D]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^D2C2\<@?C2E9\cabhbhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQm$2C2 z@?C2E9k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^:?5:2?2\F?:G6CD:EJ\`begnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQmx?5:2?2 &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^76>:52\92?5J\caccffnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQmu6>:52 w2?5Jk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\A6??DJ=G2?:2\`_`fnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^86EE:?8\fd_\2\>@?E9\5:5?E\6?5\9@>6=6DD?6DD\3FE\@FC\DEF5J\D9@HD\:E\DE:==\:>AC@G65\E96\=:G6D\@7\9@>6=6DD\A6@A=6\afg`c`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQmv6EE:?8 _ 2 >@?E9 5:5?’E 6?5 9@>6=6DD?6DD – 3FE @FC DEF5J D9@HD :E DE:== :>AC@G65 E96 =:G6D @7 9@>6=6DD A6@A=6k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^A@==\H@C<6CD\@?\6=64E:@?\52J\H:==\36\J@F?86C\2?5\AC@323=J\>@C6\5:G6CD6\5F6\E@\4@G:5\`h\`cdhh`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQm!@== H@C<6CD @? t=64E:@? s2J H:== 36 J@F?86C – 2?5 AC@323=J >@C6 5:G6CD6 – 5F6 E@ r~'xs‑`hk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^92AA:?6DD\DH:?8D\G@E6D\2?5\2>6C:42D\4FCC6?E\>@@5\4@F=5\D4C2>3=6\6IA64E2E:@?D\@7\J@F?8\2?5\@=5\G@E6CD\abceaanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afhhbbQmw2AA:?6DD DH:?8D G@E6D – 2?5 p>6C:42’D 4FCC6?E >@@5 4@F=5 D4C2>3=6 6IA64E2E:@?D @7 J@F?8 2?5 @=5 G@E6CDk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m%96 2FE9@CD 5@ ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92G6 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afhhbb^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
