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Altruism and Health: Theoretical Perspectives

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A Positive Psychology Perspective on Quality of Life

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series ((SINS,volume 51))

Abstract

There is a growing body of research documenting a salutogenic effect of social interest behaviors. This chapter seeks to discuss the possible mechanisms of how altruistic behaviors influence health by drawing on response shift theory, social network theory, and the concept of the social environment. Empirical data will be described to illustrate these theoretical perspectives, and directions for future measurement and intervention research will be discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DeltaQuest Foundation, Inc., 31 Mitchell Road, Concord, MA, 01742, USA

    Carolyn E. Schwartz & Brian R. Quaranto

  2. Departments of Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    Carolyn E. Schwartz

  3. Department of Social Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Kurt Gray

Authors
  1. Carolyn E. Schwartz
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  2. Brian R. Quaranto
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  3. Kurt Gray
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Correspondence to Carolyn E. Schwartz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 541 24, Greece

    Anastasia Efklides

  2. , School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki,, 541 24, Greece

    Despina Moraitou

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Schwartz, C.E., Quaranto, B.R., Gray, K. (2012). Altruism and Health: Theoretical Perspectives. In: Efklides, A., Moraitou, D. (eds) A Positive Psychology Perspective on Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 51. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4963-4_7

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