Benefits of Volunteering for Older Adults Mentoring At-Risk Youth

Volunteering predicts happiness among older Māori and non-Māori in the New Zealand health, work, and retirement longitudinal study

“…However, results also indicated that the magnitude of the relationship between volunteer activity and happiness is similar for M aori and non-M aori. Results from a multiple regression analysis suggest that culture does not function as a moderator between volunteering and happiness, perhaps because regardless of one's culture, volunteering can increase empathic emotions and produce an enhanced sense of meaning, that may in turn increase happiness (Borgonovi, 2008;Larkin, Sadler, & Mahler, 2005). The fact that there was very little difference in the association between volunteering and happiness among the two groups provides some evidence that they conceptualize volunteering in a fundamentally similar manner.…”

“Charity Begins at Home”: Informal Caring Barriers to Formal Volunteering Among Older People

“…Most prior research investigating decision-making relating to volunteering has either involved population samples that include both volunteers and non-volunteers to identify any differences between the groups (Bulanda and Jendrek, 2016;Dury et al, 2016;Gil-Lacruz et al, 2017;Gray et al, 2012;Hank and Stuck, 2008;Lee and Brudney, 2009;Mitani, 2013;Plagnol and Huppert, 2009;Taniguchi, 2011;van der Horst et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016;Warburton and Stirling, 2007;Yeung, 2016) or only included current volunteers (Hong and Morrow-Howell, 2013;Kelemen et al, 2017;Larkin, Sadler, and Mahler, 2005;. The present study adopted an alternative approach by intentionally sampling those who do not engage in formal volunteering to identify factors contributing to their lack of participation.…”

The benefits associated with volunteering among seniors: A critical review and recommendations for future research.

“…A number of cross-sectional and prospective cohort stud ies, together with the Experience Corps study, have reported positive associations between volunteering and reduced symptoms of depression (cross-sectional: Hunter & Linn, 1980-1981Krause, Herzog, & Baker, 1992;McMunn et al, 2009;Wahren- (2003), who found that although their participants who volunteered reported less depression than those who did not volunteer, this difference was reversed after controlling for sociodemographic variables, the self-reported amount of physical and other everyday activity in participants' lives, and other functional markers including subjec tive health, social support, and life satisfaction. Many studies have also found volunteering to be associated with higher levels and improvements in seniors' positive affect or happiness (descriptive: Larkin, Sadler, & Mahler, 2005;cross-sectional: Dulin, Gavala, Stephens, Kostick, & McDon ald, 2012;McIntosh & Danigelis, 1995;Okun, Rios, Crawford, & Levy, 2011;Pilkington et al, 2012;Windsor et al, 2008;but see Carp, 1968;prospective cohort: ACL: Thoits & Hewitt, 2001;AHEAD: Fonda & Herzog, 2001;other: Kahana et al, 2013;but see Menec, 2003). Likewise, volunteering has been associated with greater life satisfaction (descriptive: Jirovec & Hyduk, 1998;Newman, Vasudev, & Onawola, 1985; but see Young & Janke, 2013; cross-sectional: Aquino, Russell, Cutrona, & Altmaier, 1996;Bond, 1982;Hunter & Linn, 1980-81;McMunn et al, 2009;Pilkington et al, 2012;Windsor et al, 2008;but see Shmotkin et al, 2003;prospective cohort: ACL: Thoits & Hewitt, 2001;Van Willigen, 2000;other: Kahana et al, 2013;but see Menec, 2003).…”