Expressing Love Enhances Feelings of Being Loved and Well-Being
Engaging in small, daily acts of love can increase feelings of being loved and improve overall well-being. A recent study highlights the psychological benefits of expressing love regularly.
Expressing love in daily life may significantly boost feelings of being loved and contribute to overall psychological well-being. A study led by researcher Zita Oravecz at Pennsylvania State University, published in PLOS One, investigated how acts of love—both giving and receiving—affect individuals over time. The research focused on the concept of 'positivity resonance,' which suggests that small, consistent acts of love help strengthen social bonds.
The study involved 52 participants who received prompts six times daily for four weeks, asking them to rate their feelings of being loved and their acts of expressing love on a scale from 0 to 100. Results revealed that when individuals expressed love towards others, they subsequently felt more loved themselves. Interestingly, receiving love did not lead to increased expressions of love, and feelings of being loved tended to persist longer than the actual act of expressing love.
Furthermore, participants who reported higher feelings of being loved also rated themselves as more flourishing and happier overall. The findings suggest that encouraging people to openly express love can serve as a valuable psychological intervention to promote emotional health and well-being.
The authors encourage spreading kindness and love regularly, emphasizing that small acts can make a meaningful difference in people's psychological health.
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