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POSITIVE EFFECTS OF VOLUNTARY ACTIVITY IN OLD ADULTS
Author(s) -
Hidalgo M. Carmen,
MorenoJiménez Pilar,
Quiñonero Jesus
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.21522
Subject(s) - turnover , psychology , volunteer , regression analysis , voluntary association , variance (accounting) , gerontology , analysis of variance , demography , variables , social psychology , medicine , economics , statistics , mathematics , management , accounting , sociology , agronomy , biology , market economy
Volunteer work is beneficial for not only recipients and organizations but also volunteers. Several studies have shown the positive effects on health, psychological well‐being, and even on the longevity of those who take part in some kind of voluntary work. These benefits are even greater in older adults. Our research seeks to further analyse these benefits. We have studied the differences between a group of mature volunteers and another equivalent group who do not carry out any voluntary work. A total of 176 people older than 50 years of age (88 volunteers and 88 nonvolunteers) were interviewed. The results show significant differences in all the variables analysed. Meanwhile, the regression analysis indicates that self‐esteem, self‐efficacy, and social support are the variables with greater predictive weight in the level of participation. These three variables explain 41% of the variance.