Research shows cleaning increases empathy

The findings show cleaning and clean spaces play an important role in developing empathy, compassion and connection.

Research from Clorox has revealed that cleaning and clean spaces play an important role in developing empathy, compassion and connection.

Findings from a nationwide survey in the United States and statistical modeling show a person’s level of empathy is positively associated with living in a clean home. Not only does a clean environment increase a person’s empathy, but there is also a drastic increase in connections and willingness to help others in their communities, proving the simple act of cleaning has beneficial implications far beyond just making environments less dirty.

The research findings show being in a clean space impacts us in other key ways. In a clean space, the majority of people are:

  • More relaxed (80 per cent)
  • Less stressed (60 per cent)
  • More productive (72 per cent)

To further understand the survey findings, Clorox used biometric technology and analysis to measure the impact of clean and dirty rooms on physiological responses, and how that translates to emotions.

The results indicated that clean spaces have a marked impact on emotions. Specifically, in clean spaces there is a measurable increase in happiness and productivity indicators, as well as a decrease in stress indicators.

In the clean space, participants experienced an average 45 per cent increase in liking and a 44 per cent increase in attraction versus the dirty room, both of which are indicators of happiness.

Critical thinking, an indicator of productivity, was on average 20 per cent higher in the clean room as compared to the dirty room.

Disgust, an indicator of stress, was 127 per cent lower on average in the clean room as compared to the dirty room.

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