Volunteering in Middle and Later Life: Is Health a Benefit, Barrier or Both?

Li, Y.; Ferraro, K. F.

doi:10.1353/sof.2006.0132

Cited by 241Nonprofit Sector and VolunteeringAging and Gerontology ResearchHealth disparities and outcomes

Volunteering in Middle and Later Life: Is Health a Benefit, Barrier or Both?

Li, Y., Ferraro, K. F.·2006·Social Forces

DOI 10.1353/sof.2006.0132

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Abstract

The positive association between volunteering and health has been widely interpreted as evidence of the salutary effect of volunteering during adulthood. Using three waves of data from a national survey, this study uses structural equation models to examine the relationships among volunteering, functional limitations, and depressive symptoms during middle and later adulthood. The findings reveal a salutary effect of volunteering in later life as well as a compensatory mechanism. By contrast, only a barrier mechanism was uncovered in middle age: Depressive symptoms decreased volunteer participation over time. The results demonstrate life course variation in the relationship between volunteering and health and suggest greater attention to selection processes in the study of social engagement and health.

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Vote counting for functional abilities yielded inconclusive evidence.
“Three cohorts [42,45,46,55,59] reporting functional abilities (activities of daily living) yielded inconclusive evidence, partially due to the way volunteering was measured.”
From Is volunteering a public health intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and survival of volunteers (2013) · cites this paper as [42]

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Authors: Li, Y., & Ferraro, K. F.
Affiliations: New Jersey Department of Health (US)
Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
Corresponding author: Li, Y.
ORCID: Li, Y.
Ferraro, K. F.
Venue: Social Forces
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published: 2006-09-01
Volume: 85
Issue: 1
Pages: 497-519
ISSN: 0037-7732 (ISSN-L)
1534-7605
DOI: 10.1353/sof.2006.0132
OpenAlex: W2141173400
Cited by: 239
References: 58
Citations by year: 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 16
FWCI: 22.06
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Social Forces (publishedVersion)
Project Muse (Johns Hopkins University) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering
Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords: volunteering, health, midlife, old age, functional limitations, depressive symptoms, social engagement, life course, compensatory mechanisms, selection effects

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Volunteering in Middle and Later Life: Is Health a Benefit, Barrier or Both?

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