A York University professor's study on the emotional effect of practicing small acts of kindness was featured on the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star websites today.  Myriam Mongrain, associate professor in York's Faculty of Health, charted the effects of being nice to others, in small doses, over the course of a week. Researchers asked participants to act compassionately towards someone for 5-15 minutes a day, by actively helping or interacting with them in a supportive and considerate manner. The study found that six months later, participants reported increased happiness and self-esteem. The research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.