Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults
Issues addressed: While the psychological health benefits of older people's engagement in formal volunteering are well-documented, there is limited research assessing how volunteering may produce these favourable outcomes. To guide the development of volunteer positions that optimise outcomes,...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
WILEY
2021
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140100365 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90772 |
| _version_ | 1848765423217016832 |
|---|---|
| author | Jongenelis, Michelle Pettigrew, Simone |
| author_facet | Jongenelis, Michelle Pettigrew, Simone |
| author_sort | Jongenelis, Michelle |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Issues addressed: While the psychological health benefits of older people's engagement in formal volunteering are well-documented, there is limited research assessing how volunteering may produce these favourable outcomes. To guide the development of volunteer positions that optimise outcomes, this study examined (a) which aspects of the volunteering experience are most strongly associated with favourable psychological health among older adults and (b) whether relationships between these aspects and psychological outcomes are moderated by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A sample of 293 volunteers aged 60+ years (69% female, mean age = 73.33 years) completed measures assessing their engagement in volunteering, various aspects of their volunteer experience, and their psychological health. Results: Being adequately appreciated for one's contribution, perceived social and mental intensity of the volunteer role, and believing that others benefit from one's volunteering efforts were found to be associated with higher levels of psychological health. Conclusions: Ensuring the contributions of volunteers are explicitly recognised, providing opportunities for engagement in social and cognitive activities, and informing volunteers of the benefits others experience constitute potential means of enhancing volunteer outcomes and may assist with volunteer retention. So what?: This study builds upon the limited research assessing which aspects of the volunteering experience are most strongly associated with favourable psychological health among older adults. The findings point to the potential importance of four specific aspects of the volunteer experience in enhancing psychological health outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:35:01Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-90772 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:35:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | WILEY |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-907722023-05-17T00:49:00Z Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults Jongenelis, Michelle Pettigrew, Simone Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health formal volunteering older adults psychological health well-being LATER LIFE PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY BENEFITS HEALTH SATISFACTION PARTICIPATION LONELINESS MORTALITY BARRIERS Issues addressed: While the psychological health benefits of older people's engagement in formal volunteering are well-documented, there is limited research assessing how volunteering may produce these favourable outcomes. To guide the development of volunteer positions that optimise outcomes, this study examined (a) which aspects of the volunteering experience are most strongly associated with favourable psychological health among older adults and (b) whether relationships between these aspects and psychological outcomes are moderated by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A sample of 293 volunteers aged 60+ years (69% female, mean age = 73.33 years) completed measures assessing their engagement in volunteering, various aspects of their volunteer experience, and their psychological health. Results: Being adequately appreciated for one's contribution, perceived social and mental intensity of the volunteer role, and believing that others benefit from one's volunteering efforts were found to be associated with higher levels of psychological health. Conclusions: Ensuring the contributions of volunteers are explicitly recognised, providing opportunities for engagement in social and cognitive activities, and informing volunteers of the benefits others experience constitute potential means of enhancing volunteer outcomes and may assist with volunteer retention. So what?: This study builds upon the limited research assessing which aspects of the volunteering experience are most strongly associated with favourable psychological health among older adults. The findings point to the potential importance of four specific aspects of the volunteer experience in enhancing psychological health outcomes. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90772 10.1002/hpja.399 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140100365 WILEY fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health formal volunteering older adults psychological health well-being LATER LIFE PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY BENEFITS HEALTH SATISFACTION PARTICIPATION LONELINESS MORTALITY BARRIERS Jongenelis, Michelle Pettigrew, Simone Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| title | Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| title_full | Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| title_fullStr | Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| title_short | Aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| title_sort | aspects of the volunteering experience associated with well-being in older adults |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health formal volunteering older adults psychological health well-being LATER LIFE PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY BENEFITS HEALTH SATISFACTION PARTICIPATION LONELINESS MORTALITY BARRIERS |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140100365 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90772 |