VOLUNTEERING BUFFERS NEGATIVE IMPACT OF LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT ON OLDER ADULTS’ MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

Research abounds in demonstrating the negative impact of unemployment on older adults’ mental health. However, few studies examined the protective factors that buffer the negative impact of long-term unemployment (over six months) on older adults’ mental health. Using a framework of resilience and productive aging, this study explores the buffering effect of volunteering on the relationship between unemployment and depressive symptoms for older adults. A longitudinal design with 7 models using the first difference approach was adopted. Two waves (2010, 2012) of panel data from the Health and Retirement Study were used with a sample of 9,421 older adults age 50–85. Independent variable was a four-way interaction between two waves of unemployment and volunteering status. Control variables included change in self-reported health, change in difficulties in activities of daily living, change in total household income, and change in marital status. Results demonstrated that for long-term unemployed older adults, those who did not volunteer in wave 1 but volunteered between 100 to 200 hours in wave 2 had a significant decrease in depressive symptoms compared to those who were unemployed but did not volunteer in either wave. This study demonstrated a buffering effect of volunteering on depressive symptoms for long-term unemployed older adults. This finding is important because current unemployment interventions lack attention to both the long-term unemployed and people’s mental health. The finding from this study provides insights to inform future intervention development around creating volunteering opportunities for unemployed older adults in order to enhance their mental wellbeing.