Discovering the Link Between Helping Others and Joy in Young Canadians

The latest research from Canada's Public Health Agency (PHAC) sheds light on a heartening truth: children who exhibit strong prosocial behaviours—such as sharing, helping, and showing kindness—are significantly more likely to report high levels of happiness. Published in the February 2026 issue of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, the study analyzed data from thousands of children aged 6 to 11, revealing stable high prevalence of both traits over more than a decade.

This publication, led by researchers including Colin A. Capaldi from PHAC and Katrina R. Abela affiliated with McMaster University's Offord Centre for Child Studies, uses parent-reported measures from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). It marks a key step in surveillance of positive mental health (PMH) among young children, an area gaining urgency amid evolving societal pressures.

Defining Prosocial Behaviour and Its Role in Child Development

Prosocial behaviour encompasses voluntary actions aimed at benefiting others, including helping someone in distress, sharing resources, comforting peers, and cooperating in group settings. In developmental psychology, these actions are foundational to social-emotional learning, fostering empathy, moral reasoning, and positive peer relationships from early childhood onward.

Unlike antisocial behaviours, prosocial ones contribute to a child's social competence, which research consistently links to better adjustment in school and life. For instance, children displaying high prosocial traits tend to experience fewer conflicts and build stronger friendships, creating a supportive environment that enhances overall well-being.

In the Canadian context, where diverse cultural backgrounds influence child-rearing, promoting prosocial skills is vital. Universities like the University of British Columbia (UBC) have pioneered studies showing that even toddlers derive emotional rewards from giving, laying groundwork for lifelong patterns.

Methodology Behind the Groundbreaking CHMS Analysis

The study draws from six cycles of the CHMS (2007–2019), a nationally representative survey by Statistics Canada involving direct measures and questionnaires from over 6,000 children aged 6–11. Parents rated prosocial behaviour using the five-item prosocial subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a validated tool where scores of 8–10 indicate normative levels based on Canadian norms.

Happiness was assessed via a single item from the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), with parents describing their child as 'happy and interested in life'—the highest category. Logistic regression analyses, weighted for representativeness, examined trends, sociodemographic variations, and associations, excluding populations on reserves or in remote areas.

This rigorous approach ensures findings reflect mainstream Canadian children, providing a baseline for PMH surveillance as outlined in PHAC's Positive Mental Health Surveillance Indicator Framework (PMHSIF).

Prevalence Findings: High and Stable Levels Nationwide

Nearly 90% of children scored normative on prosocial behaviour (89.6% in 2007–2009 to 90.2% in 2014–2015), with no significant changes over time. Similarly, 91–92% were perceived as highly happy, stable across measured cycles.

• Females: 93.8% normative prosocial vs. males 83.3% (OR=0.33)
• Age 8–9: 89.8% vs. 6–7: 85.6% (OR=1.49)
• Age 6–7: 94.3% high happiness vs. 10–11: 88.9% (OR=0.48)
• No differences by household income, education, or family structure

These patterns align with global trends but highlight Canadian strengths, possibly due to inclusive education policies.

The Powerful Association: Prosocial Kids Six Times More Likely to Flourish

Children with normative prosocial scores had 6.67 times higher odds of high happiness (94.9% vs. 73.6%). Conversely, happy children were far more likely prosocial (90.2% vs. 58.0%). This bidirectional link underscores convergent validity for PMH indicators.

While cross-sectional data limits causality, lab studies from UBC confirm prosocial acts boost immediate joy in young children, suggesting reinforcement cycles. Researchers caution ceiling effects and social desirability bias but affirm value for surveillance.

Implications for Educators and Schools in Canada

Findings bolster evidence-based programs like Roots of Empathy, a classroom intervention fostering empathy in K-8 students across Canada. Delivered by trained instructors visiting with infants, it boosts prosocial skills and reduces aggression, with evaluations showing lasting gains.

School-wide positive behaviour supports (SWPBS), implemented in Canadian elementary schools, enhance prosocial norms alongside academics. For teachers trained at universities like Western or UBC, integrating these aligns with child development curricula. Explore higher ed career advice for roles shaping future educators.

• Model kindness daily
• Use cooperative learning tasks
• Reward group successes
• Teach perspective-taking explicitly

University Research Driving Child PMH Advances

Canadian higher education leads in this field. McMaster's Offord Centre, home to co-author Abela, pioneers child studies integrating prosocial metrics into mental health frameworks. UBC's Elizabeth Dunn lab demonstrates prosocial giving's happiness boost from toddlerhood, influencing policy.

Programs like UBC's MA in School and Applied Child Psychology or UAlberta's SCCP train scientists-practitioners to apply such insights. Amid Canada's youth happiness dip post-COVID—young adults now less happy than elders—these efforts are crucial. Check rate my professor for top child psych faculty.

Broadening Context: Child Mental Health Trends in Canada

While this pre-2019 data shows stability, post-pandemic reports indicate rising anxiety among youth, with Canada's World Happiness rank slipping to 18th in 2025. CHSCY 2019 data links screen time to lower PMH, emphasizing prosocial activities as buffers.

No SES gaps in the study suggest equitable baselines, but Indigenous and remote children need targeted support. PHAC's PMHSIF evolution, informed by university scoping reviews, pushes for child self-reports.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Communities

Encourage unstructured play, volunteer opportunities, and family discussions on kindness. Evidence shows even small acts amplify happiness via impact perception.

• Family game nights with sharing rules
• Community clean-ups for kids
• Reading prosocial stories
• Modeling gratitude

Link to academic success: prosocial children show better engagement and grades.

Photo by Stan B on Unsplash

Future Directions: Policy, Research, and Higher Ed Opportunities

Authors call for longitudinal child-reported data and intervention trials. Universities can lead via grants for PMH programs. With Canada's focus on early intervention, expect expanded teacher training.

For aspiring researchers, higher-ed jobs in psych and education abound. Intern at Offord or Dunn lab through university jobs. Read the full study here and PDF here.

By nurturing prosocial habits, Canada invests in happier futures. Share your thoughts below.