Employee volunteerism positively affects the health and well-being of the people who participate, according to a new study by UnitedHealthcare and VolunteerMatch.

The Doing Good is Good for You Study reveals 75 percent of U.S. adults feel physically healthier by volunteering and a stronger connection to their employers.

The mental and emotional benefits of volunteering are even greater, with 93 percent reporting an improved mood, 79 percent reporting lower stress levels and 88 percent reporting increased self-esteem by giving back. Also, volunteers are significantly more likely to feel they have greater control over their health and well-being.

The results of this study affirm that volunteering is a relationship that brings people together and can profoundly change the way we think about ourselves and others,” said Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch, the largest online volunteer engagement network which serves over 113,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners and 13 million annual visitors.

Read the full article by Tessa Srebro about volunteerism from VolunteerMatch