Formal volunteering as a protector of health in the context of social losses |
| |
| Authors: | Heejung Jang Fengyan Tang Ernest Gonzales Yung Soo Lee Nancy Morrow-Howell |
| |
| Institution: | 1. School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USAhej10@pitt.edu;3. School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;4. School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;5. Department of Social Welfare, Incheon National University, Incheon, Korea;6. Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | This study aims to examine the effect of the death of a family member or friend on psychological well-being, specifically the moderating effects of first-time volunteering and social network. With the sample of 354 volunteers from the Experience Corps® (EC) programs, Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) estimated the differences in psychological well-being. Among volunteers who had experienced the death of a family member or friend, new volunteers showed significant improvement in positive affect compared to experienced volunteers. EC members gained additional social contacts through volunteering. Formal volunteering has a salutatory effect on older adults' health after the loss of family members. |
| |
| Keywords: | Volunteering positive affect negative affect social isolation social contact role loss |
|
|
