THE season of lent is upon us, and with it comes commitments to abstinence and self-restraint. The Prime Minister Theresa May is reportedly giving up salt and vinegar crisps; meanwhile, chocolate, social networking and alcohol are all expected to once again top the list of the most commonly sacrificed indulgences.

But science tells us that if we want to better ourselves during this self-reflective season, it’s not just what we don’t do, but what we do do that counts.

The self-help industry was recently valued at an astounding $11bn – there’s a lot of advice out there for those of us who want it. And whilst there may be differing ideas about how to achieve happiness, one thing seems to come up time and time again: be kind.

The idea that acts of altruism can help the benefactor as well as the recipient has gained a lot of traction in recent years, but is this just empty pop psychology or is there really something to the idea that kindness is a cure?

Well, yes. But as with most things in science, it’s not quite that simple. In collaboration with researchers from Bournemouth, Oxford University recently carried out a review of the scientific literature on kindness and happiness.

Having scrutinised over 400 published papers and 21 experimental studies, the team crunched the numbers and calculated that there is indeed a correlation between kindness and happiness. Put simply: the kinder we are, the happier we feel. Whilst the effect is not nearly as breathtaking as some self-help manuals would have us believe, it does seem as though it pays to be kind.

And this finding fits in with current ideas about happiness and physical wellbeing. In the past, studies have thrown up potential links between acts of compassion and personal health.

There’s evidence to suggest that altruistic acts can help to reduce stress levels, and some studies have found a relationship between voluntary activities and improved stamina and memory. These effects may be partially linked to the sense of purpose and meaning that we get when we help others. However, it’s important to note that research into the physical impact of kind behaviours is still in its early stages and more work is needed to understand possible links.

We also need more studies into the link between compassion and mental health. Whilst the Oxford review found a relationship between kindness and happiness, we really need to dig deeper to establish exactly how and why this link exists.

Is kindness towards friends and family more rewarding that kindness towards strangers, or could the opposite even be true? The Oxford study observes that this is an area we still know remarkably little about.

So it looks like giving up our seat on the train or placing some coins in the charity box will not heal us of all suffering. Kindness is not a panacea. But being nice to people and doing good does appear to do us good as well – it’s not just airy fairy conjecture; this is cold hard science.

We finally have clear evidence that kindness is good for us. But, perhaps more importantly, decency and understanding makes the world a better place for everyone in it. And we don’t need science to tell us that.

So in this season of abstinence, we may be suffering from the effects of caffeine-withdrawal, boredom and food envy. But whatever the outcome of our respective endeavours this lent, just remember that it’s always a good idea to be kind.