POSITIVE EFFECTS OF VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY IN OLD ADULTS

• Published in: Journal of community psychology Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 188 - 199
• Main Authors: Hidalgo, M. Carmen, Moreno-Jiménez, Pilar, Quiñonero, Jesus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Older people; Quality of life; Regression analysis; Self esteem; Social psychology; Social support; Volunteers
• ISSN: 0090-4392; 1520-6629
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.21522

Volunteer work is beneficial for not only recipients and organizations but also volunteers. Several studies have shown the positive effects on health, psychological well‐being, and even on the longevity of those who take part in some kind of voluntary work. These benefits are even greater in older adults. Our research seeks to further analyse these benefits. We have studied the differences between a group of mature volunteers and another equivalent group who do not carry out any voluntary work. A total of 176 people older than 50 years of age (88 volunteers and 88 nonvolunteers) were interviewed. The results show significant differences in all the variables analysed. Meanwhile, the regression analysis indicates that self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, and social support are the variables with greater predictive weight in the level of participation. These three variables explain 41% of the variance.