Do you feel useless? Research says: volunteering is the solution.

From the research Meaning, Social Participation, and Happiness from the CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics, the organization that keeps track of these kinds of social figures through the survey “Social Cohesion and Well-being”) shows something simple yet powerful: the more you participate in society, the more meaning you experience in your life. Especially the feeling that you ertoe doet turns out to be the key.

Just look at volunteers. They often feel that they are contributing to the world around them, and they most often find that their life is worthwhile. People who have little contact with family, friends, or neighbors find their life the least meaningful.

does this mean that you automatically become happier once you start volunteering? Not a hundred percent sure — it could also be that people who already have a lot of zest for life are more inclined to become active. Chicken or egg, then. But one thing is clear: participation and meaning go hand in hand. So why not just start and experience for yourself what it does to you?

Why this research matters

The OECD — short for Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a collaboration of nearly 40 countries (including the Netherlands) that conducts research on prosperity and policy — says: happiness and meaning are just as important as money or health if you want to know how a society is really doing (OECD, 2025).

The only problem is: you can’t question people for hours about their sense of meaning every year; that quickly becomes too much to ask. Therefore, researchers are now testing whether one simple question — “do you find your life meaningful?” — says enough. The initial results are positive, but more research is needed to be sure that this one question is sharp enough to signal even small changes in society in time.

In short: Do you ever feel a bit empty or aimless? This research suggests that part of the solution is closer than you think. Volunteer, meet up more often with friends or family, or get active in your neighborhood. Not only does the world around you get better — you might too.

No idea where to start? Create an appointment with one of our intermediaries of look at our job board.