Linking Quality of Work in Midlife to Volunteering During Retirement: a European Study

Abstract

There is increasing recognition that disadvantaged work and employment conditions over the life course, including psychosocial stress at work, have negative long-term effects on health at older ages. Yet, the question whether stress at work additionally influences the likelihood of participating in voluntary work during retirement still needs to be explored. This paper studies long-term influences of stressful work during adulthood (as defined by low control and low reward at work) on participation in voluntary work in older ages. Analyses are based on the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), with detailed retrospective information on individual life courses collected among 11,751 retired men and women in 13 European countries. Results of multivariable analyses demonstrate that people who experienced stressful work are also less likely to participate in voluntary work during retirement. Importantly, these associations remain significant after controlling for important factors, including disability in older ages and disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances. In conclusion, findings suggest that promoting good working conditions may not only increase health and well-being, but also encourage participation in productive activities after labour market exit.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12062-015-9129-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Elderly Volunteering in Europe: The Relationship Between Volunteering and Quality of Life Depends on Volunteering Rates

“…age group volunteer less than the other age groups, but also they are rarely involved in volunteering as compared to those in Western and Northern Europe (Hank and Stuck 2008;Hank and Erlinghagen 2010a, b;OECD 2016). Haski-Leventhal (2009), Hank and Erlinghagen (2010a) and Wahrendorf et al (2016). We do not consider informal volunteering, such as providing unpaid help to a friend, neighbor, or family member.…”

An “Army of Volunteers”? Engagement, Motivation, and Barriers to Volunteering among the Baby Boomers

“…The factors that quite consistently correlate with higher rates of volunteering among older adults (i.e. aged around 50-80) are lower age, higher socioeconomic status (education and income), better physical and mental health, and a larger social network (Dury et al, 2015;Hank & Erlinghagen, 2010;Principi, Chiatti et al, 2012;Tang, 2008;Tang & Morrow-Howell, 2008;Wahrendorf et al, 2016). Older men and women have an equal tendency to volunteer, but in different activities (Dury et al, 2015;Okun & Michel, 2006).…”

Factors associated with formal volunteering among retirees

“…Consistent findings have been reported across gender, age, income, education, socioeconomic status (SES), and marital status. Specifically, females, younger seniors, those with higher levels of education and income, those of higher SES, and those who are married or live with a partner (especially one who volunteers) are more likely to volunteer than males, older seniors, those with lower levels of education and income, those of lower socioeconomic status, and those who do not live with a partner (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018a; Choi et al 2007;Parkinson et al 2010;Pilkington et al 2012;Principi et al 2012a;Wahrendorf et al 2016). These findings are largely consistent with the integrated theory of volunteer work, which argues that volunteering is a productive activity requiring certain human, social, and cultural capital and, as such, is more likely among those who are more educated and of higher SES (Wilson and Musick 1997).…”