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Dynamics of Volunteering and Life Satisfaction in Midlife and Old Age: Findings from 12 European Countries

Author

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  • Thomas Hansen

    (Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, 0167 Oslo, Norway)

  • Marja Aartsen

    (Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, 0167 Oslo, Norway)

  • Britt Slagsvold

    (Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, 0167 Oslo, Norway)

  • Christian Deindl

    (Institute of Sociology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany)

Abstract

A growing literature shows that doing voluntary work not only helps the wider community but can also improve one’s own well-being. To date, however, few studies have examined the relationship between volunteering and well-being in non-US and especially in comparative data. We study this relationship using two waves of data of 18,559 individuals aged 50 and above from 12 European countries. We analyze life satisfaction impacts of change and stability in volunteering status and in the intensity (frequency) of volunteering, and explore whether these impacts differ according to life stage (age, employment status) and across countries with different norms and supports for voluntarism. Findings show that net life satisfaction is higher among longer-term, recent, and former volunteers than among stable (long-term) non-volunteers. There are no significant life satisfaction differences between the three groups with volunteer experience. Equally, similar levels of life satisfaction are observed among people who have increased and decreased their frequency of volunteering. It thus seems to be the experience and not the dynamics (i.e., change or persistence) of volunteering that is associated with well-being. Findings further suggest life course variation in the association between volunteering and well-being, as the relationship is stronger for older and long-term non-employed (mostly retired) individuals than for their middle-aged and working counterparts. The relationship is also stronger in countries where volunteering is less common and less institutionally supported.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Hansen & Marja Aartsen & Britt Slagsvold & Christian Deindl, 2018. "Dynamics of Volunteering and Life Satisfaction in Midlife and Old Age: Findings from 12 European Countries," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:7:y:2018:i:5:p:78-:d:144690
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Matthias Lühr & Maria K. Pavlova & Maike Luhmann, 2022. "They are Doing Well, but is it by Doing Good? Pathways from Nonpolitical and Political Volunteering to Subjective Well-Being in Age Comparison," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 1969-1989, June.
    3. Jo-Tzu Chu & Malcolm Koo, 2023. "Life Satisfaction and Self-Esteem in Older Adults Engaging in Formal Volunteering: A Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Andrea Vega-Tinoco & Ana Isabel Gil-Lacruz & Marta Gil-Lacruz, 2022. "Civic Participation as a Promoter of Well-Being: Comparative Analysis among European Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 217-237, November.
    5. 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.
    6. Ricky N. Lawton & Iulian Gramatki & Will Watt & Daniel Fujiwara, 2021. "Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 599-624, February.
    7. John Rodwell & Dianne Johnson & Lara Thynne, 2024. "Discretion and Obligation Across Volunteering and Caring: Shining Light on Non-Voluntary Carers in the Retiring Encore Segment," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(2), pages 589-610, September.
    8. Utta Tiittanen & Riitta Turjamaa, 2022. "Social Inclusion and Communality of Volunteering: A Focus Group Study of Older People’s Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-10, April.
    9. Miya Chang, 2022. "Comparative Study on Volunteering among Older Korean Immigrants in the United States and Older Koreans in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    10. Heng Qu, 2022. "Differential Associations Between Volunteering and Subjective Well-Being by Labor Force Status: An Investigation of Experiential and Evaluative Well-Being Using Time Use Data," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1737-1770, April.
    11. Ariel Gordy & Helen Han Wei Luo & Margo Sidline & Kimberley Brownlee, 2021. "The Missing Measure of Loneliness: A Case for Including Neededness in Loneliness Scales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-18, December.
    12. Thomas Hansen & Marcela Petrová Kafková & Ruth Katz & Ariela Lowenstein & Sigal Naim & George Pavlidis & Feliciano Villar & Kieran Walsh & Marja Aartsen, 2021. "Exclusion from Social Relations in Later Life: Micro- and Macro-Level Patterns and Correlations in a European Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, November.
    13. Panter-Brick, Catherine & Eggerman, Jannik J. & Jefferies, Philip & Qtaishat, Lina & Dajani, Rana & Kumar, Praveen, 2024. "Does volunteering impact refugee women's life satisfaction, empowerment, and wellbeing? Experimental evidence, local knowledge, and causal reasoning," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    14. Hanna Vangen & Tale Hellevik & Katharina Herlofson, 2021. "Associations between paid and unpaid work among Norwegian seniors: competition, complementarity or continuity?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 479-489, December.
    15. Matthias Lühr & Maria K. Pavlova & Maike Luhmann, 2022. "Nonpolitical Versus Political Participation: Longitudinal Associations with Mental Health and Social Well-Being in Different Age Groups," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 865-884, February.
    16. Theun Pieter Tienoven & Lyn Craig & Ignace Glorieux & Joeri Minnen, 2022. "Active Participation and Well-Being Among the Elderly in Belgium and the USA: A Cross-National Time-Use Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 625-644, April.
    17. Hyejin Yoon & Lesa Huber & Chulwon Kim, 2021. "Sustainable Aging and Leisure Behaviors: Do Leisure Activities Matter in Aging Well?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, February.

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