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Impact of volunteering on cognitive decline of the elderly

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  • Gupta, Sumedha

Abstract

Cognitive decline among the elderly imposes a large welfare and health care cost on the individual as well as society. Little however is known about factors that can mitigate cognitive decline. Using seven waves of the Health and Retirement Study and a fixed effects – instrumental variable methodology, this study estimates the effects of volunteering on old age cognitive decline. Although cognitive decline is an inevitable aspect of aging, our results suggest that volunteering participation significantly forestalls its progress among individuals aged 60 years and older.

Suggested Citation

  • Gupta, Sumedha, 2018. "Impact of volunteering on cognitive decline of the elderly," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 46-60.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joecag:v:12:y:2018:i:c:p:46-60
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeoa.2018.01.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Qiyang & Liu, Yang & Zhang, Chi & An, Zihao & Zhao, Pengjun, 2021. "Elderly mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative exploration in Kunming, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    2. Eva Serrat-Graboleda & Mònica González-Carrasco & Ferran Casas Aznar & Sara Malo Cerrato & David Cámara Liebana & Marta Roqueta-Vall-Llosera, 2021. "Factors Favoring and Hindering Volunteering by Older Adults and Their Relationship with Subjective Well-Being: A Mixed-Method Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Trine Filges & Anu Siren & Torben Fridberg & Bjørn C. V. Nielsen, 2020. "Voluntary work for the physical and mental health of older volunteers: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), December.
    4. Arjen Wit & Heng Qu & René Bekkers, 2022. "The health advantage of volunteering is larger for older and less healthy volunteers in Europe: a mega-analysis," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1189-1200, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive ability; Pro-social engagement; Volunteering; Selectivity; Health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • C41 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Duration Analysis; Optimal Timing Strategies

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