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Cited by 923Nonprofit Sector and VolunteeringAging and Gerontology ResearchPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Effects of Volunteering on the Well-Being of Older Adults

Morrow-Howell, Nancy, Hinterlong, Jim, Rozario, Philip A., Tang, Fengyan·2003·The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
DOI 10.1093/geronb/58.3.s137
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study tests the effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults, including the effect of level of engagement, the moderating effects of demographic and social factors, and the effects of the nature of the volunteer experience. METHODS: This is a secondary data analysis of three waves of data from the Americans' Changing Lives Study. Self-rated health, functional dependency, and depression are regressed on the well-being measures from the previous waves, other control variables and volunteer status, volunteer hours, type and number of volunteer organizations, and the perceived benefit to others of the volunteer work. RESULTS: Older adults who volunteer and who engage in more hours of volunteering report higher levels of well-being. This positive effect was not moderated by social integration, race, or gender. There was no effect of the number of organizations for which the older adult volunteered, the type of organization, or the perceived benefit of the work to others. DISCUSSION: This work contributes to a knowledge base that points to the development of social programs and policies that maximize the engagement of older adults in volunteer roles. The findings suggest that targeting efforts may not be warranted, in that there are not differential benefits according to personal characteristics of the volunteer. Future studies have to address the nature of the social institutions that will maximize the number of elders in these roles and the benefits that they accrue.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This study finds that volunteering is associated with higher late-life well-being among older adults, with benefits tapering off at about 100 hours per year. The positive effect was not moderated by social integration, race, or gender, and neither number/type of organizations nor perceived benefit to others consistently predicted well-being.

Key findings

  • Among adults over 60, 34.5% volunteered; volunteers averaged 71.5 hours per year. Volunteer status had a significant positive effect on all three well-being measures: self-rated health, functional dependency, and depression.
  • Increased volunteer hours were related to higher well-being, but the significant quadratic terms showed the effect tapered off; the impact was at a maximum at 100 hours a year (about 2–3 hours a week), with higher involvement not associated with increasing gains.
  • No evidence that the positive effect was moderated by informal social integration, race, or gender. Age moderated the relationship for functional dependency: the association between age and functional dependency was weaker for volunteers, with the same trend for depression only marginally significant.
  • Number of organizations, type of organization, and perceived benefit to others were not related to well-being outcomes. Perceived benefit coefficients were b = −.05, p = .45 for self-rated health; b = −.05, p = .30 for functional dependency; and b = −.001, p = .99 for depression. Only a marginal relationship appeared between volunteering for a religious organization and functional dependency.

Methods

  • Secondary data analysis of three waves of the Americans’ Changing Lives Study, collected in 1986, 1989, and 1994 from a multistage stratified probability sample of 3,617 adults with oversampling of people over 60. The older subsample included 1,669 at Wave 1, 1,279 reinterviewed at Wave 2, and over 900 at Wave 3; pooled analyses used N = 2,739 for volunteers and nonvolunteers and N = 993 for volunteers only.
  • Volunteer experience was measured by volunteer status, volunteer hours, type of sponsoring organization, number of sponsoring organizations, and perceived benefit to others. Well-being outcomes were self-rated health, functional dependency, and depressive symptomatology; controls included demographics, informal social integration, and lagged well-being measures from the previous wave.
  • Main analysis used generalized estimating equations (GEE) via SAS GENMOD, with ACL weights. Missing data were completed using multiple random imputation through Markov chain Monte Carlo, creating five independent data sets; results were combined across data sets.

Limitations

  • The paper states that causal direction cannot be established short of an experimental design, because social causation and social selection may operate simultaneously; it cites Thoits and Hewitt (2001) showing a reciprocal relationship between volunteer hours and well-being.
  • The paper notes attrition and missing data: by the end of the 8-year observation period, 27.56% of the older subsample had died, with a 14% nonresponse rate at Wave 2 and 10% at Wave 3; missing data were imputed for nonresponders who had not died.
  • Evident from the text: the study is observational and relies on self-reported volunteer and well-being measures, so unmeasured individual preferences, cultural preferences, and family circumstances may affect outcomes; the authors also note these constructs are difficult to measure validly.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1093/geronb/58.3.s137

Cites

46 of 46 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 26 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The positive effect of volunteering on well-being is not moderated by informal social integration.

    “We found no evidence that the positive effect of volunteering is moderated by informal social integration.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The effect of volunteering on well-being does not differ between female and male respondents.

    “The effects of volunteering are similar between female and male respondents and between non-Whites and Whites.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Volunteering for a religious organization is related to functional dependency among older volunteers.

    “Table 6 shows that volunteering for a religious organization is related to functional dependency.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The effect of volunteering on well-being does not differ between non-Whites and Whites.

    “The effects of volunteering are similar between female and male respondents and between non-Whites and Whites.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For older volunteers, the number of sponsoring organizations is not related to well-being outcomes.

    “For those who volunteer, the number of organizations has no relationship to any of the three dependent variables.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 9
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 21

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Perceived benefit to others of the volunteer work is not associated with self-rated health, functional dependency, or depression among older volunteers.

    “Counter to our hypothesis, we found that volunteers who perceive more benefit to other people from their work do not report higher well-being outcomes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The same trend of age moderation occurs for depression, but the coefficient is only marginally significant.

    “This same trend occurs for the dependent variable of depression, but note that the coefficient is only marginally significant.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Age moderates the relationship between volunteering and well-being: the negative effect of increased years of age on functional dependency is attenuated for older volunteers.

    “There is some evidence to suggest that age moderates the relationship between volunteering and well-being.”
    • Also stated in: § RESULTS · plain
      “Thus, the negative effect of increased years of age is attenuated for older volunteers.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Older adults who volunteer report higher levels of well-being than those who do not.

    “Table 2 shows that there is a significant effect of volunteer status (yes or no) on all three well-being measures.”
    • Also stated in: § RESULTS · hedged
      “Our findings suggest that volunteering positively affects latelife well-being.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Role theory suggests that participation in volunteer roles will increase well-being outcomes (role enhancement), at least up to a point (role strain).

    “Role theory offers a useful perspective by suggesting that participation in volunteer roles will increase well-being outcomes (role enhancement), at least up to a point (role strain).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sieber, 1974

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A literature spanning over three decades documents a positive relationship between volunteering and well-being, suggesting that volunteering has a role in maintaining well-being in later life.

    “A literature spanning over three decades documents the positive relationship between volunteering and well-being, suggesting that volunteering has a role in maintaining wellbeing in later life (Fengler, 1984;Havighurst, Neugarten, & Tobin, 1968;Herzog, Kahn, Morgan, Jackson, & Antonucci, 1989;Maddox, 1968;Oman, Thoresen, & McMahon, 1999;Ward, 1979).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Fengler, 1984

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Havighurst, Neugarten, & Tobin, 1968

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Herzog, Kahn, Morgan, Jackson, & Antonucci, 1989

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Older adults who volunteer for less than 40 hours a year experience lower mortality hazard than nonvolunteers or those who volunteer at a higher level.

    “Musick and colleagues (1999) hypothesized that moderate amounts of volunteering will be associated with lower risks of mortality, and they documented that older adults who volunteer for less than 40 hours a year experience lower mortality hazard than nonvolunteers or those who volunteer at a higher level.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Musick et al., 1999

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    At the second observation, there was a 14% nonresponse rate caused by the inability to locate elders who had not died; there was a 10% nonresponse rate at the third observation.

    “At the second observation, there was a 14% nonresponse rate, caused by the inability to locate elders who had not died; there was a 10% nonresponse rate at the third observation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisereasoning

    The literature is unclear about what the number of organizations captures about the volunteer experience.

    “The literature is also unclear about what the number of organizations captures about the volunteer experience-level of involvement, type of involvement, or complexity of involvement.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The multiple waves of data are pooled so that levels of well-being from the previous time period can be controlled while the marginal effect of volunteering in that time period is isolated.

    “The multiple waves of data are pooled so that levels of well-being from the previous time period can be controlled while the marginal effect of volunteering in that time period is isolated.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Control variables included lagged measures for each well-being indicator from the previous observation period.

    “Control variables included lagged measures for each indicator of wellbeing from the previous observation period.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    This study used three waves of a nationally representative data set.

    “We used three waves of a nationally representative data set”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The GEE method is a preferred analytic technique when time-dependent autocorrelated data are used.

    “The GEE method is a preferred analytic technique when timedependent autocorrelated data are used (Liang & Zeger, 1986).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Liang & Zeger, 1986

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    To reduce multicollinearity while testing for the effects of race on the relationship between volunteering and well-being, the well-being outcomes were regressed on volunteer status within non-White and White subgroups and the parameter estimates were compared.

    “To reduce multicollinearity while testing for the effects of race on the relationship between volunteering and well-being, we regressed the well-being outcomes on volunteer status within non-White and White subgroups and compared the parameter estimates.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Interpretationown data

    The effect of volunteering on well-being is universal across gender and race.

    “suggesting a universal effect”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Control variables (except lagged well-being measures) were taken from the same wave as the dependent variable because time-varying factors in the current assessment period are more likely to be related to current well-being than those assessed in the previous wave.

    “We use the control variables (except lagged well-being measures) from the same wave as the dependent variable because we judge that time-varying factors such as marital status, income, and informal social support in the current assessment period are more likely to be related to current well-being than those factors assessed several years before in the previous wave.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Research on the effects of volunteering has only begun to specify the conditions under which volunteering produces positive outcomes for the individual.

    “The research on the effects of volunteering has only begun to specify the conditions under which volunteering produces positive outcomes for the individual (Morrow-Howell, Hinterlong, Sherraden, & Rozario, 2001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Morrow-Howell, Hinterlong, Sherraden, & Rozario, 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The generally positive relationship between activity and well-being depends on the personal and social resources of the older adult.

    “the generally positive relationship between activity and well-being depends on the personal and social resources of the older adult”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fengler, 1984

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Missing data were completed using multiple random imputation, a preferred technique for completing missing data.

    “We used multiple random imputation to complete the missing data.”
    • Also stated in: § Data · boosted
      “Multiple random imputation, which uses all the information available as well as a random component to fill in missing values, is recognized as a preferred technique for completing missing data (Little & Rubin, 2002;Wang, Sedransk, & Jinn, 1992).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Little & Rubin, 2002

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Wang, Sedransk, & Jinn, 1992

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The imputation procedure ensured that missing values caused by death were not imputed or used to impute other missing data.

    “Additionally, the imputation procedure was structured to ensure that missing values caused by death of the respondent were not imputed or used to impute other missing data.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Van Willigen (2000) found that race did not mediate the effects of volunteering on life satisfaction.

    “She found that race did not mediate the effects of volunteering on life satisfaction, although other work suggests that race may be a moderating condition.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Van Willigen, 2000

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The concept of role context suggests that volunteering may not be equally beneficial to all people.

    “The concept of role context suggests that volunteering may not be equally beneficial to all people.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Moen et al., 1992

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The GEE method is robust to violations of key assumptions, such as multivariate nonnormality.

    “More importantly, the GEE method is robust to violations of key assumptions, that is, when multivariate nonnormality is found (Liang & Zeger, 1986).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Liang & Zeger, 1986

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    The large sample size provides ample statistical power for the proposed analyses.

    “The large sample size provides ample statistical power for the proposed analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Despite the lack of experimental designs, there is enough evidence to proceed with the understanding that volunteering is beneficial to the well-being of older adults.

    “We suggest that despite the lack of experimental designs in this body of work, we have enough evidence to proceed with the understanding that volunteering is beneficial to the well-being of older adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    This study faces the problem of social causation versus social selection.

    “Like previous work on the effects of volunteering, this study faces the difficult problem of social causation versus social selection (Verbrugge, 1983).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Verbrugge, 1983

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Findings cannot be interpreted as unidirectional, short of an experimental design.

    “Although findings cannot be interpreted as unidirectional, short of an experimental design”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The number of organizations does not matter; rather, it is the assumption of the volunteer role that matters.

    “Our findings suggest that the number of organizations does not matter, but rather it is the assumption of the volunteer role that matters.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    This work supports the perspective that volunteering is important in the larger context of successful aging.

    “It supports the perspective that volunteering is important in the larger context of successful aging.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
29 of 29

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The three well-being measures (self-rated health, functional dependency, depression) validly capture well-being in older adults.

    “Well-being is captured by three variables: self-rated health, functional dependency, and depressive symptomotology.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Volunteer status and hours are accurately reported by respondents.

    “The volunteer experience is captured through five variables: volunteer status (volunteer or not); volunteer hours; type of sponsoring organization; number of sponsoring organizations where the study participant volunteers; and the participant's perception of the benefit to others of the volunteer activity.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The association between volunteering and well-being is not due to unmeasured confounding.

    “The multiple waves of data are pooled so that levels of well-being from the previous time period can be controlled while the marginal effect of volunteering in that time period is isolated.”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Maddox, G. L. 1968. Persistence of life style among the elderly: A longitudinal study of patterns of social activity in relation to life satisfaction. In B. L. Neugarten (Ed.), A reader in social psychology (pp. 181–183). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  2. Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., Sherraden, M., Rozario, P. 2001. Advancing research on productivity in later life. In N. Morrow-Howell, J. Hinterlong, & M. Sherraden (Eds.), Productive aging: Concepts and challenges (pp. 285–311). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  3. Sherraden, M., Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., Rozario, P. 2001. Productive aging: Theoretical choices and directions. In N. Morrow-Howell, J. Hinterlong, & M. Sherraden (Eds.), Productive aging: Concepts and challenges (pp. 260–284). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  4. U.S. Bureau of the Census. 1996. Statistical abstract of the United States: 1996 (116th ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

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Related

Authors
Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., Rozario, P. A., & Tang, F.
Affiliations
  • Washington University in St. Louis (US)
  • Florida State University (US)
  • Adelphi University (US)
Corresponding author
Morrow-Howell, Nancy
ORCID
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology: Series B
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2003-05
Volume
58
Issue
3
Pages
S137-S145
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/58.3.s137
OpenAlex
W2121541397
Cited by
923
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 65 · 2012: 51
FWCI
45.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Ford Foundation
  • Longer Life Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
volunteering, older adults, well-being, self-rated health, functional dependencies, depression, volunteer hours, social integration, race, gender, volunteer organizations, Americans' Changing Lives Study
MeSH terms
Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Quality of Life, Sick Role, Social Behavior, United States, Volunteers

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