Childhood Kindness Leads to Healthier Teen Choices, New Research Suggests

Childhood Kindness Leads to Healthier Teen Choices, New Research Suggests
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According to an article from Earth.com, new research suggests that children who consistently demonstrate prosocial behaviors, such as helping and caring for others, are more likely to make healthier dietary choices as teenagers. The study, which utilized data from the Millennium Cohort Study in the UK, found that children who were kind and cooperative at ages five, seven, and 11 were more likely to maintain a healthy consumption of fruits and vegetables at ages 14 and 17.

Lead investigator Farah Qureshi from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health states that the research shifts the focus from what’s “going wrong” to the positive attributes of young people. The study suggests that prosocial behavior can strengthen social ties and improve psychological functioning, which in turn leads to better health choices. While the findings show a strong association, the authors acknowledge that it is not definitive proof of causation. The research indicates that promoting kindness in children could be an effective strategy for public health.