Abstract
Sustained engagement in volunteering and its correlates have been examined in many studies across the globe. However, there is a dearth of research that explores the perspectives of long-term formal volunteers on the nature of changes perceived in oneself as a result of volunteering. Moreover, the linkages between psychological well-being and volunteering have been insufficiently explored. The present study was aimed at addressing these gaps. A heterogeneous sample of 20 long-term formal volunteer engaged in volunteering across different voluntary organisations in a southern metropolitan Indian city formed the primary sample for the study. In addition, a group of 21 short-term volunteers, matched on age, income and gender, was utilised for comparison with long-term volunteers on well-being indices. A semi structured interview schedule was used to explore self-perceived changes attributable to volunteering experience. In addition, a few standardised measures were used to comprehensively assess subjective well-being and psychological well-being. The interview data provided rich descriptions of perceived positive changes in self across cognitive, behavioral and emotional domains. Mirroring these patterns, the quantitative analyses indicated that long-term volunteers experienced higher levels of psychological well-being (sense of mastery and competence, self-acceptance and sense of engagement and growth) than short-term volunteers. The potential mechanisms involved in beneficial outcomes of long-term volunteering and implications for further research are highlighted.
Highlights
The study of volunteering has attracted the attention of scientists from varied disciplines such as philosophy, economics and sociology to psychology and public health
Formal volunteering refers to “unpaid help given as part of groups, clubs or organizations to benefit others or the environment” [2]
This study revealed life-course variability in terms of its observation that the association between volunteering and well-being emerged only from age 40 onward
Summary
Volunteering ResearchThe study of volunteering has attracted the attention of scientists from varied disciplines such as philosophy, economics and sociology to psychology and public health. Volunteering has been defined as “any activity which involves spending time, unpaid, doing something which aims to benefit someone (individuals or groups) other than or in addition to close relatives, or to benefit the environment” [1]. Formal volunteering refers to “unpaid help given as part of groups, clubs or organizations to benefit others or the environment” [2]. It includes devoting time and effort on a planned basis primarily for the benefit of others, the community or environment [3]. The tradition of volunteering has existed in India for a long time formal volunteering through organizations became more popular only in the post-independence period, Behav.
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