Benefits of formal voluntary work among older people. A review

Abstract

Background and aims: A narrative review of quantitative population-based longitudinal studies was conducted to examine the association of formal voluntary work and personal well-being among older people doing the voluntary work and those being served. Methods: To be included, the study had to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, written in English and conducted in Western countries, participants were at least 60 years of age, the study employed a longitudinal or experimental design, the methodology and outcomes were explicitly described, and voluntary work quantified as visits or hours within a certain time frame. Results: Sixteen studies out of 2897 met the inclusion criteria for the review reporting on benefits of volunteering for those doing the voluntary work. Outcomes were collapsed into three categories of personal well-being: physical health, mental health, and psychosocial resources. All included studies came from the United States and showed that volunteering in old age predicted better self-rated health, functioning, physical activity and life satisfaction as well as decreased depression and mortality. However, it did not decrease the risk of chronic diseases or nursing home admission in old age. Only one study which met the inclusion criteria on the benefits of volunteering for older recipients was identified. Conclusions: Studies mainly used data from large datasets with only limited information about volunteering, which limits more detailed analyses. Randomized controlled trials are needed to study the effect of voluntary work on those being served, as well as to reveal the healthy participant effect among volunteers.

Social participation as an indicator of successful aging: an overview of concepts and their associations with health

“…The literature review indicated that each concept shared a positive relationship with health in older adults, regardless of the measure of health that was used. Longitudinal cohort studies further demonstrated that baseline social participation in any of the three forms is associated with better health outcomes at follow-up on several indices of health, including cognitive function, 39 depression, 34 better self-rated health and physical functioning, 59,63 and even a reduced incidence of falls. 35 We also examined evidence that the three concepts of social participation were associated, such that an increased number of connections increases the likelihood that the individual will also participate in more organised community activities associated with clubs and volunteer their time.…”

“…Most studies on older adults and volunteering have been conducted in the US. 12,59 A series of literature reviews has enumerated the benefits to older adults of volunteering. 12,57,59,60 Most studies report on the psychological and social benefits of volunteering, 12 although there is some research that demonstrates associations between volunteering and physical indicators of health.…”

“…12,59 A series of literature reviews has enumerated the benefits to older adults of volunteering. 12,57,59,60 Most studies report on the psychological and social benefits of volunteering, 12 although there is some research that demonstrates associations between volunteering and physical indicators of health. Volunteering has positive associations with perceived health, 61 life satisfaction, 62 positive mood 12 and reduced mortality levels among older adults.…”

“…57 Two reviews of longitudinal cohort studies and one randomised controlled trial found that volunteering in old age predicts better self-rated health, physical functioning and physical activity. 59,63 Relatively limited research has focused on the effects of volunteering on cognitive decline, but evidence from an analysis of older adults who were cognitively impaired at baseline demonstrated that older adult volunteers improved their executive function and memory scores relative to cognitively impaired non-volunteers. 66,67 Older adults who volunteered were less likely to be admitted to hospital with a fall-related hip fracture.…”

Interventions to promote or maintain physical activity during and after the transition to retirement: an evidence synthesis

“…185 Three other reviews examined relationships/associations between life changes more generally (including retirement) and physical activity. [186][187][188] A third group of relevant reviews considered populations of older adults (without referring to retirement) using a range of age inclusion criteria, 12,[189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196] with one specifically focusing on the potential benefits of voluntary work. 190 The first of the two other reviews of the retirement transition 1 examined 19 longitudinal or cross-sectional studies comparing retired adults with those not retired or longitudinal studies across the retirement transition (with no age parameters for inclusion set).…”