Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach

Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can imp...

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Main Authors: Jongenelis, Michelle, Jackson, B., Warburton, J., Newton, R.U., Pettigrew, Simone
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0164027519877476
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90773
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author Jongenelis, Michelle
Jackson, B.
Warburton, J.
Newton, R.U.
Pettigrew, Simone
author_facet Jongenelis, Michelle
Jackson, B.
Warburton, J.
Newton, R.U.
Pettigrew, Simone
author_sort Jongenelis, Michelle
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years (n = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-907732023-05-04T08:07:38Z Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach Jongenelis, Michelle Jackson, B. Warburton, J. Newton, R.U. Pettigrew, Simone Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Gerontology Geriatrics & Gerontology trial longitudinal per-protocol intention-to-treat PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES LATER LIFE BENEFITS RISK PARTICIPATION POPULATION MORTALITY BARRIERS PEOPLE HEALTH Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years (n = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90773 10.1177/0164027519877476 English https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0164027519877476 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP140100365 SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC unknown
spellingShingle Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Gerontology
Geriatrics & Gerontology
trial
longitudinal
per-protocol
intention-to-treat
PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES
LATER LIFE
BENEFITS
RISK
PARTICIPATION
POPULATION
MORTALITY
BARRIERS
PEOPLE
HEALTH
Jongenelis, Michelle
Jackson, B.
Warburton, J.
Newton, R.U.
Pettigrew, Simone
Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach
title Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach
title_full Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach
title_fullStr Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach
title_full_unstemmed Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach
title_short Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Approach
title_sort improving attitudes to volunteering among older adults: a randomized trial approach
topic Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Gerontology
Geriatrics & Gerontology
trial
longitudinal
per-protocol
intention-to-treat
PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES
LATER LIFE
BENEFITS
RISK
PARTICIPATION
POPULATION
MORTALITY
BARRIERS
PEOPLE
HEALTH
url https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0164027519877476
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0164027519877476
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90773