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Does Becoming A Volunteer Attenuate Loneliness Among Recently Widowed Older Adults?

Author

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  • Dawn C Carr
  • Ben Lennox Kail
  • Christina Matz-Costa
  • Yochai Z Shavit

Abstract

ObjectivesLoneliness is a significant public health concern, particularly for those who have lost a spouse through widowhood. This study examines whether becoming a volunteer at the time of widowhood is associated with reduction of these risks.MethodA pooled sample of 5,882 married adults age 51+, drawn from the 2006–2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, was used to estimate regression models of the relationship between becoming widowed (relative to staying continuously married) and loneliness, and whether the associated loneliness of having lost a spouse is moderated by starting to volunteer (<2 hr, 2+ hr/week).ResultsOur results show that for those who become widowed, loneliness is significantly higher than those who stay continuously married. However, starting to volunteer 2+ hr per week is related to attenuated loneliness among the widowed such that widows who volunteer at that intensity have levels of loneliness similar to those of continuously married individuals volunteering at the same intensity.DiscussionThis study suggests higher intensity volunteering may be a particularly important pathway for alleviating loneliness among older adults who have recently become widowed. Results are discussed in light of theory, future research, and potential interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Dawn C Carr & Ben Lennox Kail & Christina Matz-Costa & Yochai Z Shavit, 2018. "Does Becoming A Volunteer Attenuate Loneliness Among Recently Widowed Older Adults?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(3), pages 501-510.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:73:y:2018:i:3:p:501-510.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbx092
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Webster, Noah J. & Ajrouch, Kristine J. & Antonucci, Toni C., 2021. "Volunteering and health: The role of social network change," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    5. 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.
    6. Danilo Bolano & Bruno Arpino, 2020. "Life after death: Widowhood and volunteering gendered pathways among older adults," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(21), pages 581-616.
    7. Yu-Han Hsiao & Meng-Chih Lee & Chih-Jung Yeh & Chi-Jung Tai & Shiuan-Shinn Lee, 2021. "Social Participation and Survival in Widowed Persons: Results of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-11, October.
    8. Yang, Fang & Gu, Danan, 2021. "Widowhood, widowhood duration, and loneliness among older adults in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).

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