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The contribution of caregiving orientations to volunteering‐related motives, costs, and benefits
Author(s) -
Meneghini Anna M.,
Mikulincer Mario,
Shaver Phillip R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/pere.12258
Subject(s) - prosocial behavior , psychology , meaning (existential) , compassion , perspective (graphical) , social psychology , life satisfaction , volunteer , compassion fatigue , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , burnout , agronomy , artificial intelligence , political science , computer science , law , biology
In four studies, a behavioral system approach was adopted to understand prosocial behavior, and the contribution of caregiving orientations (hyperactivation, deactivation) to various aspects of volunteerism was examined. In Studies 1 and 2, conducted in Italy, engagement in volunteer activities and motives for volunteering were assessed. In Studies 3 and 4, conducted in Israel, compassion fatigue and changes in life satisfaction and meaning following sustained volunteer service were assessed. Caregiving deactivation was associated with less engagement in volunteer activities and more compassion fatigue. Caregiving hyperactivation was also associated with compassion fatigue but was accompanied by heightened engagement and motivation for volunteering, as well as volunteering‐related increases in life satisfaction and meaning. The findings were discussed from a behavioral system perspective.