Psychosocial Differences between Elderly Volunteers and Non-Volunteers

1981/04/01 by Kathleen I. Hunter, Margaret W. Linn · 5 citations
Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Employment and Welfare Studies #Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering #Health disparities and outcomes

paper · doi:10.2190/0h6v-qppp-7jk4-lr38

openalex publication_date 1981/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/26

Abstract

Volunteer workers over age sixty-five were compared to retired elderly who did not engage in any type of work activity. Volunteers were found to have significantly higher degree of life satisfaction, stronger will to live, and fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatization. Since no differences were found on most demographic or background variables, participation in volunteer work appears to be the salient factor in explaining psychosocial differences between volunteers and non-volunteers.

Citations

• The Measurement of Life Satisfaction

Cited by

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• Altruism [wikipedia]