These programs may offer new ways of increasing preventive health-care use and decreasing illness-based health-care use, which in turn may help drive down health-care costs, argue Kim and Konrath. Amid a crisis of exorbitance in a fetid system that spends $3 trillion annually, ways to enhance the health of the population at little cost—or no cost, or negative cost—are the grand prize for public health. Volunteering programs may be one. In 2012, 64.5 million American volunteers provided 7.9 billion hours of service, which the Corporation for National and Community Services estimated was worth $175 billion. If, in addition to that, health-care costs dropped, that value could be … large.

More importantly, volunteer programs could simultaneously enhance society and the health of a large segment of people. But there is an important wrinkle in applying this information.

After meeting Konrath recently to collaborate, Kim learned of one of her prior studies, the results of which concerned him. In an observational study, she had found that people who volunteered for “self-oriented” motives like “I need to get away from my problems” had a mortality risk that was similar to non-volunteers. As Kim explains, “Only the people who were doing it for more outward reasons–compassion for others–had reduced rates of mortality.”

“Before seeing that study, I thought it would be interesting if everyone (who has the time and financial resources to do so) were encouraged to volunteer,” Kim said. “It would help society, people’s health, and also reduce national health-care costs. But I guess people would have to have the right motives for this to work out.”

So that suggests that a sense of purpose is playing a role in this effect?

“I think so. Another thing it suggests is that if people start prescribing volunteering for better health, it might not work, because their motives might matter.”

So if I write about this, and people who volunteer start to be motivated by their own health concerns, is that ruining this effect for them?

“Yep, this whole project, I was thinking about that, too.”

So, don’t volunteer for your own health. In fact, now knowing that volunteering may be beneficial to your health, I hope I haven’t robbed you of that benefit. Try and forget everything you’ve just read.

Still, even if you go into volunteering for the wrong reasons, it’s hard to stay self-interested once you’re immersed in a cause and woven into the lives of people who need you.

“I think people who are affluent become isolated and get disconnected from the harsh realities of being disadvantaged, what that actually means,” said Kim. “Generally, if you take people who lack empathy, like Pharma Bro or the affluenza kid, and get them into volunteering, it kind of shifts that focus. ... Maybe if we want people to get health benefits from volunteering we have to someone win their hearts and minds. What would that look like? I don't know.”