Blood donation, an act of altruism that saves lives: Serenis' analysis

Blood donation, an act of altruism that saves lives: Serenis' analysis.

Blood donation has a significant impact on the lives of many, as every year only in Italy saves approximately 630 thousand people. Especially patients suffering from chronic diseases benefit from this altruistic gesture.

Furthermore, according to Serenis and the Telethon Foundation, carrying out an act of altruism benefits not only others, but also oneself. In fact, a generous gesture such as donating blood increases the level of joy and stimulates the reward mechanism in the brain.

Is there a reason behind the choice to donate blood or not? Serenis, one online psychotherapy platform, conducted a survey involving 235 participants to try to understand what is hidden behind this gesture.

The motivations that drive blood donation: the evidence emerging from the survey

According to the results obtained, the 59% of those interviewed turned out to be donors. Among them, only the 14,9% reported quitting, mainly due to pre- or post-collection discomfort, or due to the strict conditions required for the donation. Non-donors represent 40,8% of the people interviewed, blocked by fears like the one about the needle (in 14,4% of cases).

However, only 17% of respondents reported negative feelings such as anxiety and fear related to donation. Positive emotions, such as altruism, pride, well-being, gratitude and satisfaction, therefore prevail in most cases.

Serenis' cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist and expert in Superhero Therapy, Martina Migliore explains that: “Our social side, the one that pushes us to stay together and help each other, is essential for us to survive. But why do we help others? To encourage the spirit of solidarity, compassion or to take an act of faith: in many religions, in fact, helping others is considered a central principle. But we can also do it to occupy time, meet new people, reduce guilt or receive reward. In short, for more "selfish" premises. For example, a person may choose to donate blood because he believes it is a duty, given the possibility, but perhaps the advantage of checking himself periodically, thanks to regular and free tests, also influences his decision-making process. This obviously does not take away the value of the gesture, nor does it make the person less "altruistic", indeed, knowing that doing good can also benefit ourselves can be a further reason to engage in volunteering or charity".