Impact of Motivations for Volunteering on Well-being Among Health Sciences Students

Abstract

Motivations for volunteering as a meaningful occupation can influence well-being. This study explored the relationship between motivations for volunteering and perceived well-being among students enrolled in one of ten departments in a School of Health Sciences. A cross-sectional survey incorporating the RAND 36-Item Short Form Survey and Volunteer Function Inventory was employed. Most of the 95 participants were students enrolled in the health science undergraduate and occupational therapy graduate programs. Approximately 75% had volunteered in the past year. RAND SF-36 findings indicated good perceived well-being among many categories. Primary motivations for volunteering included values (Mdn = 30) and understanding (Mdn = 27). Weak positive relationships were found between social motivation and social functioning (rs = 0.198, p = 0.056) and values motivation and social functioning (rs = 0.208, p = 0.046). These findings contribute to volunteerism literature for college students and facilitate the understanding of methods for organizing volunteer opportunities with this population.