Participation In Volunteer Work Research Articles

Does volunteer work affect life satisfaction of participants with chronic functional limitations? An empirical investigation

As highlighted in the field of the social determinants of health, welfare programmes need to address psychosocial and material needs, since both are drivers of health conditions. This study is based on the assumption that volunteer work (unpaid activity defined here as ‘social treatment’- policy) may foster a higher life satisfaction of people with a chronic disability (resulting from long-term functional limitations). In particular, the analysis empirically tests a causal effect of an active participation in volunteer work on the life satisfaction of the participants, taking into consideration the role of self-reported quality of the public services provided (transport, emergency health and education services) and the big five individual personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness).For this propose, data provided by ISFOL (Institute for the Professional Training of Workers) for the year 2014 is used. Firstly, a propensity score matching strategy is implemented. This strategy allows to account for potential confounding factors that can affect both a propensity towards being a volunteer and being very satisfied with life. Secondly, a control function approach is also implemented to check the possible presence of a bi-directionality between participation in volunteering and subjective well-being.The results show that life satisfaction is significantly affected by being actively involved in social unpaid activity. A decisive role to carrying out this ‘social treatment’- policy is however attributed to the overcoming of economic and environmental constraints (e.g. low quality of health-care services) especially in Southern Italy.

A Study of the Relationship between the Citizen’s Attitude of Welfare and Philanthropic Behaviors: Focusing on Donation and Volunteer Participation

본 연구의 목적은 시민의 복지태도가 나눔행동에 미치는 영향력을 확인하는 것이다. 이를 위해 서울시와 서울연구원이 서울시 거주 3,019가구를 조사한 2015 서울복지실태조사 데이터를 활용해 시민들이 가진 4가지 복지태도 : 성장과 분배, 선택적 복지와 보편적 복지, 복지지출에 대한 개인과 정부의 책임, 정부복지정책 신뢰수준이 기부와 자원봉사 참여에 미치는 영향을 확인하였다. 분석방법으로는 두 개의 이항종속변수 사이에 존재할 수 있는 상호의존성을 반영해 효율적인 추정을을 가능하게 해주는 이변량 프로빗 모형을 사용하였다. 연구결과 성장보다 분배를 중요하게 인식할수 록, 정부복지정책에 대한 신뢰가 높을수록 기부에 적극적으로 참여하였고, 복지지출에 대한 정부의 책임을 중요하게 인식할수록 기부에 소극적인 것으로 나타났다. 그리고, 보편적 복지 정책에 대한 중요성 중요하게 인식할수록 자원봉사 참여에 소극적인 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 연구의 성과가 부족한 복지에 대한 개인 인식과 나눔 행동 사이의 관계에 대해 실증적인 분석을 하였고, 기부와 자원봉사 행동에 대한 상호의존성을 반영할 수 있는 분석방법을 소개했다는 점에서 의의를 갖는다.The purpose of the study is to identify the influence that the citizen’s attitude of welfare exerts on philanthropic behaviors. Specifically, the study has identified the influences that the citizen’s attitude on the four things, that is, growth and distribution, targeted welfare and universal welfare, the responsibility for welfare expenses, and the trust in the governmental welfare policy, exert on donations and participation in volunteer work. For this purpose, the study used the data from the 2015 Seoul Welfare Survey which was conducted with 3,019 households in Seoul. And for its analytical method, the study employed Bivariate Probit model which enables efficient estimation by reflecting the interdependence that may exist between the two binomial dependent variables. The study showed that people who consider welfare distribution more importantly than economic growth and those who put greater trust in the governmental welfare policy more actively participated in donation, and that those who more strongly believe the governmental responsibility for welfare were more passive in participating in donation, and that those who more strongly believe the importance of universal welfare policy were more passive in participating in volunteer activities. This study has performed an empirical analysis on the relationship between the public perception of welfare and philanthropic behaviors and is significant in that it has introduced a new analytical method that can reflect the interdependence between donation and volunteer participation.

Do English Skills Affect Muslim Immigrants' Economic and Social Integration Differentially?

This paper estimates the returns to English-speaking fluency on the socioeconomic outcomes of childhood immigrants. We further investigate whether Muslim childhood immigrants face additional hurdles in economic and social integration into the host country. Motivated by the critical age hypothesis, we identify the causal effects of English skills on socioeconomic outcomes by exploring the differences in the country of origin and age at arrival across childhood immigrants. We first document that all childhood immigrants who migrate from non-English-speaking countries at a younger age attain higher levels of English skills. We also find that acquiring better English-language skills improves the educational attainment and labor and marriage market prospects of non-Muslim childhood immigrants significantly and increases their participation in volunteer work. However, our results show that while a good command of English enhances the educational attainments of Muslim childhood immigrants, it shows no positive return in either the labor or marriage markets. Our results also show that progress in English fails to improve Muslim childhood immigrants' engagement in voluntary work, meaning that the opportunity for social cohesion is missed.

Determinants of participation in voluntary work: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies

BackgroundParticipation in voluntary work may be associated with individual and societal benefits. Because of these benefits and as a result of challenges faced by governments related to population ageing, voluntary work becomes more important for society, and policy measures are aimed at increasing participation rates. In order to effectively identify potential volunteers, insight in the determinants of volunteering is needed. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review including meta-analyses.MethodsA systematic search in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, Business Source Premier, and EconLit was performed on August 12th 2015. We included longitudinal cohort studies conducted in developed countries that quantified factors associated with volunteering among samples from the general adult population. Two reviewers independently selected eligible studies, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies using the QUIPS tool. Estimates reported in the papers were transformed into Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals. For each determinant, random-effects meta-analyses were used to generate summary estimates.ResultsWe found that socioeconomic status, being married, social network size, church attendance and previous volunteer experiences are positively associated with volunteering. Age, functional limitations and transitions into parenthood were found to be inversely related to volunteering.ConclusionsImportant key factors have been identified as well as gaps in the current literature. Future research should be directed towards deepening the knowledge on the associations between the factors age, education, income, employment and participation in voluntary work. Moreover, major life course transitions should be studied in relation to volunteering.

Ageing in Norwegian Rural and Urban Communities

Abstract This paper, based on data from two recent national surveys of the residents of municipalities in Norway, compares rural and urban elderly people’s degree of satisfaction with locally available services and their reported involvement with others in the community. It focuses in particular on their living conditions and indicators of well-being, including their access to home care and medical services and their degree of participation and trust in local social networks. Two findings stand out. First, contrary to common expectations, rural residents are at least as satisfied with their home care and medical services as their urban counterparts are. This parity reflects Norway's policy of subsidizing social welfare services in sparsely populated areas. Second, in keeping with common expectations, they report more frequent social contacts with their neighbours and greater participation in voluntary work than urban residents do.

Helping Others Helps? A Self-Determination Theory Approach on Work Climate and Wellbeing among Volunteers

Participation in voluntary work is not sufficient to facilitate one’s psychological wellbeing and the motivation underlying this helping behavior may matter. Grounded in self-determination theory, this survey research examined the relationships among a supportive work climate, autonomous/controlled motivation, and subjective wellbeing (i.e., emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction). Volunteers (n = 2022) answered a survey form measuring the related study variables. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that a supportive work climate positively and negatively predicted autonomous and controlled motivation, respectively. Autonomous motivation was a negative predictor of emotional exhaustion and a positive predictor of life satisfaction, whereas controlled motivation positively predicted emotional exhaustion and negatively predicted life satisfaction. A supportive work climate had an indirect effect on emotional exhaustion and life satisfaction via autonomous/controlled motivation. These findings suggest that only when volunteers are motivated by autonomous forms of motivation will their subjective wellbeing be enhanced.

Volunteer care workers: A case for challenging resource theories on volunteering

ABSTRACTThis paper challenges prevailing theories on volunteering which explain participation in volunteer work by the high capital resources of individuals (resource theories). Using care theory and focusing on volunteers working with the frail elderly, the sick and the dying, we ask whether resource theory is a suitable theoretical framework for this particular kind of unpaid work. With a 2012 Danish population survey, we find that care volunteering attracts lower-resourced individuals who are predominantly female. We use this finding to argue that resource theory is unhelpful in explaining this particular form of volunteering and to call for more theory development.

Factors Associated With the Willingness of Clinical Health Care Professionals for Living Organ Donation

Understanding the attitudes and willingness in regard to living organ donation of health care professionals is important for clinical practice and needs to be addressed. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine willingness and its influencing factors in regard to living organ donation in clinical health care professionals. MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design. A total of 375 health care professionals from a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan were included in this study. ResultsNearly 65% of the participants indicated a willingness to donate their living organ. Of these participants, 97.1% were willing to donate to family members, 80.8% were willing to donate to friends, and 78.9% were willing to donate to strangers. The predictors of willingness to engage in living organ donation were the desire to help others (odds ratio [OR] = 2.96; P < .01), positive attitude toward living organ donation (OR = 1.12; P < .01), financial support from the government (OR = 4.99; P < .01), and fewer physical concerns (OR = 0.97; P = .04). The willingness to donate a living organ was not associated with age, sex, religious belief, education level, participation in voluntary work, years of clinical work, type of profession, or knowledge about living organ donation. ConclusionIn general, health care professionals had a positive attitude toward and willingness to engage in living organ donation. It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as a referent framework for policymaking in regard to living organ donation and transplantation.

Social Capital as a Shield against Anxiety among Displaced Residents from Fukushima

The March 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan resulted in an increased risk of psychological distress among affected residents. We conducted original surveys of Futaba residents, a town in Fukushima where all of the residents were forced to evacuate from their homes due to radioactive contamination, obtaining 585 responses (a response rate of about 20%). Using this original data set, we investigate the role of social capital in maintaining mental health among the residents. First, we found the level of stress captured by the Kessler index (K6) to be unusually high compared both with people across Japan and with those who were displaced because of the earthquake and/or tsunami (but not the nuclear catastrophe). However, having high levels of social capital — captured by the number of neighbors from Futaba after displacement, participation in volunteer work after displacement, and participation in tea parties after displacement — plays an important role in reducing anxiety and distress among Futaba residents. Finally, we provide concrete recommendations for policy makers and NGOs to increase resilience among affected residents by strengthening social ties.

Social capital as a shield against anxiety among displaced residents from Fukushima

The March 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plants in Japan resulted in an increased risk of psychological distress among affected residents. We conducted original surveys of Futaba residents, a town in Fukushima where all of the residents were forced to evacuate from their homes due to radioactive contamination, obtaining 585 responses (a response rate of about 20%). Using this original data set, we investigate the role of social capital in maintaining mental health among the residents. First, we found the level of stress captured by the Kessler index (K6) to be unusually high compared both with people across Japan and with those who were displaced because of the earthquake and/or tsunami (but not the nuclear catastrophe). However, having high levels of social capital—captured by the number of neighbors from Futaba after displacement, participation in volunteer work after displacement, and participation in tea parties after displacement—plays an important role in reducing anxiety and distress among Futaba residents. Finally, we provide concrete recommendations for policy makers and NGOs to increase resilience among affected residents by strengthening social ties.

Recruitment of volunteers connected with sports mega-events: A case study of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Abstract Volunteers play an important role in the successful hosting of sports mega-events. Volunteers help reduce operational costs of sports mega-events by reducing labor compensation. Volunteers offer skills and effort without rewards, but recruiting qualified volunteers for sports mega-events without incentive and reward is challenging. The present study adopts volunteer motivation and human resource management approaches. The psychological connection of volunteers with their task provides useful insights into their interests and their connection with volunteer work. This study empirically tests the relationships among volunteer motivation, recognition and rewards, connectedness, and intention to volunteer in the context of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. A total of 232 surveys were administered to individuals. Empirical research suggests that leisure motivation is the most influential factor that affects the connectedness of volunteers followed by purposive motivation and egoistic motivation. External influences did not significantly affect connectedness. Among the factors of recognition and rewards, economic recognition and rewards positively influenced connectedness. Psychological and managerial recognition and rewards did not show a significant effect on connectedness. Empirical research also found that connectedness positively influenced intention to volunteer. This study empirically demonstrates that participation in volunteer work not only enhances the internal motivations of volunteers, but also strengthens the organizational supports offered by Olympic committees. This study extends this area of research on volunteer motivation to recognition and rewards in sports organizations, which is related to connectedness and behavioral intention of individuals. This present study provides several theoretical and practical implications.

A study on the factors influencing the community participation of older adults in China: based on the CHARLS2011 data set.

Many communities provide older people with various opportunities to participate in the society. The 2010 Chinese census reveals that the majority of the older adults in China are still healthy, but research shows that older adults have relatively low levels of community participation. This study aims to determine the factors that affect the community participation of older adults in China using data collected from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The CHARLS survey used a multistage sampling strategy to select respondents from 450 resident or village communities in China. A total of 17,000 persons from 10,000 families participated in the survey. The sample for this study includes 4283 individuals aged 60years and above who have been invited to answer the survey based on their participation in entertainment and volunteer activities within the past month; 1009 were from urban areas and 3247 were from rural areas. Using logistic regression, this study identifies several variables that can predict the community participation of older adults. These variables included educational background, residence status, self-rated living standard and health status, number of available community facilities, expected social support, family care responsibility and involvement/non-involvement in old-age insurance schemes. In addition, an urban-rural difference was observed in the participation of these adults in entertainment activities, and the differences between older adults residing in urban and rural areas were insignificant in terms of their participation in volunteer work. These findings imply that the Chinese government should consider these predictors and the urban-rural differences when making policies regarding the community participation of older adults.

Social support network and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients.

To analyse the relationship between the social support network (SSN) and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The sample comprised 150 consecutive MS patients attending our MS clinic. To assess the socio-demographic data, a specifically designed questionnaire was applied. The HRQOL dimensions were measured with the Short-Form Health Survey Questionnaire-SF36 and the SSN with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Spearman's correlation was used to compare the magnitude of the relationship between the SSN and HRQOL. The mean patient age was 41.7 years (± 10.4; range: 18-70 yr); the mean Expanded Disability Status Score was 2.5 (±2.4; range: 0-9). There was a statistically significant correlation between the structure of the SSN and the HRQOL. The composition of the SSN, social group membership and participation in voluntary work have an important role in the HRQOL of patients with MS.

The Work–Home Interface: Linking Work‐Related Wellbeing and Volunteer Work

AbstractAn abundance of research shows the benefits of participation in volunteer work for individuals, employers and the society as a whole. However, relatively little is known about the precursors of volunteer work. In this study, we aim to fill this gap by investigating to what extent work‐related well‐being can function as a driver of volunteer work. Moreover, building on the Conservations of Resources Theory (Hobfoll, , ), we propose that the relationship between work‐related well‐being (burnout and engagement) and volunteer work is mediated by the work–home interface (work–home enrichment and work–home conflict). This hypothesis was tested in a large Swiss sample (N = 1947). Consistent with our expectations, structural equation analyses revealed an indirect relationship between (i) work engagement and volunteer work via work–home enrichment and (ii) between burnout and volunteer work via work–home conflict. In conclusion, it seems that well‐being at work indeed functions as a precursor for volunteer work because of the consequences it has for the work–family interface. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Linking Quality of Work in Midlife to Volunteering During Retirement: a European Study.

There is increasing recognition that disadvantaged work and employment conditions over the life course, including psychosocial stress at work, have negative long-term effects on health at older ages. Yet, the question whether stress at work additionally influences the likelihood of participating in voluntary work during retirement still needs to be explored. This paper studies long-term influences of stressful work during adulthood (as defined by low control and low reward at work) on participation in voluntary work in older ages. Analyses are based on the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), with detailed retrospective information on individual life courses collected among 11,751 retired men and women in 13 European countries. Results of multivariable analyses demonstrate that people who experienced stressful work are also less likely to participate in voluntary work during retirement. Importantly, these associations remain significant after controlling for important factors, including disability in older ages and disadvantaged socioeconomic circumstances. In conclusion, findings suggest that promoting good working conditions may not only increase health and well-being, but also encourage participation in productive activities after labour market exit.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12062-015-9129-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Social networks and civic and political participation in six European cities. A quantitative study

This study examines the relation between the size and composition of social networks of people and the degree of civic and political participation using survey data of the GEITONIES-project in six European cities (Lisbon, Bilbao, Thessaloniki, Vienna, Warsaw and Rotterdam). In like with Robert Putnam's findings, we expected respondents with larger social networks to participate more. We also expected that respondents with bridging social networks (in particular with more interethnic social contacts) to participate more. We found that network size is indeed related to participation in voluntary work, but not to political participation (voting). Interethnic contacts do not contribute to civic or political participation. On the contrary, people with more intra-ethnic contacts participate more in voluntary work.

Voluntary Work for Public Health—Older Volunteers’ Participation in a Norwegian Society —Motivation Factors for Participating—Enrich Life and Positive for Health

Today there is a decreasing interest in contributing to general organizations. The purpose of this study is to examine participation in volunteer work in a municipality in Norway. The main focus is determinants of motivation factors for participation as well as non-participation. A first step was to conduct a focus group interview. The second step was to make questions for a survey based on the results of the focus group interview in order to provide an overall direction for the survey. A questionnaire was sent to six local organisations in a municipality in Norway. Analysis: Multivariate logistic and linearly regression analysis. Result: The total model was statistical significant, indicating that the model was able to distinguish between volunteers who reported to be respectively happy or not happy. The model explained 36% to 62% of the variance in this variable. The variables made a statistical significant contribution to the model. The strongest predictor of being happy was the variable “energy”. The variable “positive for my health” was the second strongest predictor. “Income” has a reverse association, meaning that the volunteers are less likely to be reported to be happy when their income increases. Network and illness explain years in voluntary work. Conclusion and implications for public health nurses: The present study shows the effectiveness of volunteering for elderly. Thus, it is an important element in public health nurses work to include strategies that focus on program stimulating elderly citizens in the municipality to stay healthy physically and psychologically.

Partisan Media Selective Exposure During the 2012 Presidential Election

This report explores the variables related to partisan selective media exposure, a process by which people select media outlets and content consistent with their political predispositions. This study employs national survey data ( N = 876) during the month of October 2012 immediately prior to the U.S. presidential election. Political orientation (i.e., liberal, moderate, or conservative) served as the dependent variable. The analysis revealed that political orientation was related to gender, race, and religion. The civic engagement variables of participation in a church project and participation in volunteer work within one’s community were also related. Finally, the results suggest that conservatives were most prone to use conservative talk radio, Christian radio and TV, and Fox News. Liberals were more prone to use PBS and Facebook. As such, the data indicate that audience members appear to seek out partisan media and messages consistent with their political leanings. The implications of partisan selective media exposure concerning the development of political knowledge are discussed.

Volunteerism and Positive Aging in Hong Kong: A Cultural Perspective

This study aims to examine factors related to volunteerism and explore the relationship between volunteerism and positive aging across three age groups. A total of 1,170 Hong Kong Chinese respondents aged between 15 years and 79 years were recruited for the study via a random household survey. Results found that age was negatively related to participation in voluntary work. Older adults aged 60 years to 75 years demonstrated the lowest volunteer participation rate compared with younger adults (aged 15 years to 39 years) and midlife adults (aged 40 years to 59 years). Paradoxically, older volunteers exhibited the highest frequency of volunteering, operationalized as spending 10 hours or more on volunteer work in the past month. Compared with younger and midlife adults, older adults were motivated to volunteer by societal concern and esteem enhancement. Participation in voluntary work was associated with three positive aging outcomes: good health, caring engagement with significant others, and productive engagement in the community. The findings suggest great potential in promoting volunteering in old age because older volunteers tend to contribute more hours than younger volunteers do, and volunteering is associated with positive aging.

Voluntary Work, Informal Help and Trust: Changes in Finland

This study examines participation in voluntary work and informal help of another household and their connection to trust in Finland. I ask what changes have taken place in participation in voluntary work, informal help and trust in the past ten years. I use the Time Use Survey conducted at Statistics Finland as the data material. According to the definition of Statistics Finland's Time Use Survey, volunteering may be acting as a secretary, fund-raising, sports instruction, companionship service or other such organised activity. Participation in voluntary work in Finland is at a high level. The concept of social capital originates from the view that in order to understand well-being of societies, account should be taken of not only the economy but also of the social dimension of society, such as the ability to cooperate and the networks supporting it. Although Finland seems to have a strong foundation for communality and social capital, communal activity and social capital are not evenly divided between different population groups. Participation in voluntary work is connected to a high socio-economic group and education. Households of highly educated and upper-level employees received also the most informal help, while households of workers, unemployed and pensioners gained the least informal help. A functioning civic society with voluntary work through organisations and informal help can only supplement the basic services of the welfare state, but cannot replace them.