Membership in Different Types of Voluntary Associations and Psychological Well-Being
Abstract
While many studies have examined the aggregate effect of voluntary association membership on thepsychological well-being of older persons, none has explored the possibility that well-being may be related to membership only in certain types of associations. Among 16 types of voluntary associations in oneanalysis and 17 types in another, membership in church-affiliated groups alone emerges as a significant,but weak predictor of life satisfaction and happiness. If further research can identify the factorsthat lead members of church-affiliated groups to have higher levels of psychological well-being,other voluntary associations may be able to use that knowledge to enhance, if only to a small degree,the quality of later life.
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Of the 29 best social support studies, 27 (93%) reported significant positive relationships.
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From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [271]
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- Authors
- Cutler, S. J.
- Affiliations
- Oberlin College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cutler, S. J.
- Venue
- The Gerontologist
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1976-08-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 335-339
- ISSN
- 0016-9013 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-5341
- OpenAlex
- W2135467506
- Cited by
- 78
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Gerontologist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
- Keywords
- civil society organizations, psychological well-being, older adults, life satisfaction, happiness, social participation
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Female, Happiness, Humans, Male, Organizations, Self-Help Groups, United States
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