Relationships between Volunteering, Neighbourhood Deprivation and Mental Wellbeing across Four British Birth Cohorts: Evidence from 10 Years of the UK Household Longitudinal Study.

Hei Wan Mak,Daisy Fancourt,Rory Coulter

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031531

Abstract

Volunteering is associated with greater mental, physical and social wellbeing. However, less is known about whether the health benefits of volunteering vary with two sets of factors known to shape population health and health-related behaviours: (1) age and birth cohort, and (2) place of residence. This study examined how these factors influence the relationship between volunteering and self-reported mental health using five waves of data from Understanding Society: The UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) enriched with information on neighbourhood deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation 2015). Two self-reported mental health and wellbeing outcomes were examined: mental distress (GHQ-12) and health-related quality of life (SF-12). The sample was stratified by cohort: pre-1945 (born before 1945), Baby Boomers (born 1945–1964), Gen X (born 1965–1979), and Millennials (born from 1980). Fixed-effects regressions revealed that volunteering was associated with reduced levels of mental distress and greater levels of health-related quality of life in older generations, but not amongst younger generations. No moderating effect of area deprivation was found. This study suggests that generational social attitudes and changes in how volunteering is portrayed and delivered could influence not only whether people volunteer, but also whether doing so bolsters health.

Highlights

Volunteering—defined as individuals giving their time and labour voluntarily for community service—is recognised as an important asset for wellbeing [1]
The overall mean for volunteering was 0.21, with a greater prevalence of volunteering among older cohorts
This study shows that participating in volunteering is associated with higher levels of health-related quality of life and that the association can be found across neighbourhoods, regardless of deprivation

Summary

Introduction

Volunteering—defined as individuals giving their time and labour voluntarily for community service—is recognised as an important asset for wellbeing [1]. Volunteerism spans a wide variety of both online and offline activities ranging from supporting neighbours with everyday tasks through to volunteering at a local library, animal shelter or community centre; teaching people about voting registration; working to improve the local environment (e.g., through litter picks); raising funds for charitable causes; involvement in local politics; and providing emotional support through helpline services. These activities vary in scale and formality from small, informal individual actions through to participating regularly in legally recognised community, national and global organisations. Over 1 million people registered as volunteers with organisations such as the Royal Voluntary Service [5]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion