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Williams T, Lakhani A, Spelten E. Exploring the relationship between loneliness and volunteering amongst Australian adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:269. [PMID: 38263057 PMCID: PMC10804524 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17807-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alleviating loneliness and fostering social connections and a sense of belonging are essential for individuals' well-being in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteering has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent or alleviate loneliness among adults. To gain insights into factors that can reduce or protect against loneliness, it is important to consider multi-dimensional measures of loneliness and motivations to volunteer. This study aimed to understand which variables predict Australian volunteers' social, family, and romantic loneliness. METHODS From October 2021 to January 2022, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to a sample of Australian adults with volunteering experience. The survey collected demographic information and used validated measures to assess social, family, and romantic loneliness and volunteer motivation. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between loneliness and motivations for volunteering. RESULTS Of the 1723 individuals who accessed the survey link, 160 participants completed the survey. The average age of respondents was 59.87 years (SD 12.3). The majority were female (77.5%), married or partnered (70.6%), and had ten or more years of volunteering experience (62.1%). Overall, participants reported low to moderate levels of loneliness across social (M = 12.1; SD = 5.3), family (M = 11.3; SD = 6.7), and romantic (M = 14.8; SD = 8.3) dimensions. Social motivation for volunteering was negatively associated with social and romantic loneliness, while enhancement and protective motivations were positively associated with family and romantic loneliness. Age and rurality were not significantly associated with any dimension of loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Loneliness is a multifaceted and intricate experience that impacts individuals socially and emotionally. This study's findings confirmed that having protective and enhancement motives to volunteer was associated with increased loneliness. Social motives to volunteer were associated with a tendency to have lower levels of loneliness, possibly due to the positive impact of building and maintaining social relationships through volunteering. Understanding these associations is necessary to ensure that volunteering activities align with each person's unique needs and motivations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Williams
- Department of Rural Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, PO Box 4095, Mildura, VIC, 3500, Australia.
| | - Ali Lakhani
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Evelien Spelten
- La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, 3552, Australia
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He F, Lin B, Liu X, Mei Y, Wang W, Zhang Z, Wang M. Subtypes of nursing students' volunteer motivation in COVID-19: a latent profile analysis. BMC Nurs 2024; 23:53. [PMID: 38238711 PMCID: PMC10797810 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-01699-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One factor that influences nursing students' decision to engage in volunteer activities is volunteer motivation. It is important to understand the motivations of nursing students to volunteer. However, the majority of current studies have concentrated on the present level of nursing students' motivation to volunteer. OBJECTIVES To identify subgroups of nursing students' volunteer motivation and its influential factors. METHODS From January to February 2022, a cross-sectional online study was conducted, and 2569 nursing students from 10 provinces in China were recruited. Participants completed the General Information Questionnaire, Volunteer Functional Inventory (VFI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). We explore the categories and characteristics of volunteer motivation using latent profile analysis. Then, we determined factors that affect undergraduate nursing students' volunteer motivation using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS The volunteer motivation score of the nursing students was 77.65 (15.22). The study found that volunteer motivation could be divided into three categories: low-low protective volunteer motivation group (9.3%), general-high career values volunteer motivation group (37.5%), and high volunteer motivation group (53.2%). Perceived social support scale score, perceived stress scale score, gender, and grade significantly influenced the volunteer motivation of nursing students in different categories (both P < 0.05). Women were more likely to have higher motivation to volunteer than men, and fourth-year nursing students were more likely to be in general-high career values volunteer motivation group. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the significant heterogeneity in volunteer motivation among nursing students. Higher volunteer motivation was associated with higher perceived social support and lower perceived stress. In addition, gender and academic year were significant influencing factors. Nursing educators should develop targeted volunteer management plans based on the typological characteristics of the population to motivate nursing students to volunteer and promote the development of individual physical and mental health and social well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION The survey was approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee of the Department of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University (No. 2022-0006).
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Affiliation(s)
- Fupei He
- School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Beilei Lin
- School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China.
- Academic of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China.
| | - Xueting Liu
- School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Yongxia Mei
- School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Wenna Wang
- Academic of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhenxiang Zhang
- School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China.
| | - Mingxu Wang
- School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an City, Shanxi Province, China
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Iqbal S, Di Martino S, Kagan C. Volunteering in the community: Understanding personal experiences of South Asians in the United Kingdom. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 51:2010-2025. [PMID: 36599084 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Upstanding civic action is central to individual and community well-being, particularly when communities comprise rich and diverse membership. However, not all groups in society have the same opportunities and resources to volunteer. This is particularly true for South Asian people, who are often reported to be less likely to volunteer. Research into the experience and meanings that this ethnic group attributes to volunteering has been exceptionally scarce. Informed by a community psychology perspective, this qualitative study conducted nine semistructured interviews with British South Asians involved in formal volunteering activities. The aim was to explore their personal experiences and motivations regarding volunteering for their community of belonging. Results from reflexive thematic analysis were grouped under three themes. These were (1) volunteering cultivated individual well-being, (2) South Asians who volunteer often experience social injustice and marginalisation and (3) volunteering for South Asians is intrinsically tied to religious and cultural motivations. British South Asians faced personal and social obstacles in accessing fundamental health and social care in their communities of belonging. Religion, and community social capital were positive volunteering strategies for British South Asians. Positive impacts of well-being included becoming closer to faith and increased sense of meaning/purpose and recognising of individual strengths. These findings offer valuable insights and recommendations for community organisations and governmental bodies to better promote volunteering for ethnic minorities. We suggest the adoption of cultural and religious sensitivity, along with strategies to remove barriers in access to opportunities and support for volunteering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syka Iqbal
- Department of psychology, Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Salvatore Di Martino
- Department of psychology, Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Carolyn Kagan
- Department of psychology, Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
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Zhu X, Dong Z, Wu Y, Xu DW. A review of different types of volunteer programs for older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1164952. [PMID: 37397711 PMCID: PMC10311508 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1164952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Theoretical models and empirical evidence suggest an association between volunteering and health outcomes in older adults. However, less is known about existing programs that involve older adults engaging in formal volunteering, especially programs for older volunteers with cognitive impairment. In this review, we summarized and evaluated different types of volunteering-based programs involving older volunteers with and without cognitive impairment. After a non-systematic literature search, we presented eight example volunteer programs. Older volunteers participate in the programs in person or remotely. In five of the programs, older volunteers without cognitive impairment participate in intergenerational engagement, support and referral, home visiting, and dementia care services. The other three programs specifically recruit older volunteers with cognitive impairment and provide intergenerational engagement and individualized volunteer activities. Both strengths and challenges identified in the programs were discussed. Different types of volunteering-based programs are available for engaging older volunteers. For volunteers to remain active during the pandemic or for volunteers who live with cognitive impairment, remote programs can be a valuable alternative. Program effects on older volunteers need to be tested in more rigorously designed studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghe Zhu
- Department of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Dong
- College of Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yili Wu
- Department of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dong-Wu Xu
- Department of Psychology, School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Ho M, Pullenayegum E, Fuller-Thomson E. Is Social Participation Associated with Successful Aging among Older Canadians? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6058. [PMID: 37372645 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The present study examines various activities of social participation (i.e., church or religious activities; educational or cultural activities; service club or fraternal organization activities; neighbourhood, community, or professional association activities; volunteer or charity work; and recreational activities) as contributing factors to successful aging. Successful aging in this study includes the following: adequate social support, no limitations with respect to Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), no mental illness in the preceding year, no serious cognitive decline or pain that prevents activity, as well as high levels of happiness, and self-reports of good physical health, mental health, and successful aging. Methods: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, longitudinal study on aging. A secondary analysis of the baseline (i.e., 2011-2015) and Time 2 (i.e., 2015-2018) data of the CLSA was conducted on a sample of 7623 older adults who were defined as "aging successfully" at baseline and were aged 60+ at Time 2. Binary logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the association between engaging in various social participation activities at baseline and aging successfully at Time 2. Results: In a subsample (n = 7623) of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Comprehensive Cohort who were aging successfully at baseline, the prevalence of successful aging at Time 2 was significantly higher among the participants who participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities compared to those who were not involved in these activities. After adjusting for 22 potential factors, the results of the binary logistic regression analyses reported that participants who, at baseline, participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities had higher age-sex-adjusted odds of achieving successful aging (volunteer or charity work: aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.33; recreational activities: aOR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.32). Conclusions: Among six types of social participation activities, people who participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities were more likely to achieve successful aging than their counterparts who did not engage in these activities. If these associations are found to be causal, policies and interventions encouraging older adults to participate in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities may support older adults to achieve successful aging in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel Ho
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada
- Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada
| | - Eleanor Pullenayegum
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Esme Fuller-Thomson
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada
- Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1V4, Canada
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Nichol B, Wilson R, Rodrigues A, Haighton C. Exploring the Effects of Volunteering on the Social, Mental, and Physical Health and Well-being of Volunteers: An Umbrella Review. VOLUNTAS : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF VOLUNTARY AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 2023:1-32. [PMID: 37360509 PMCID: PMC10159229 DOI: 10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Volunteering provides unique benefits to organisations, recipients, and potentially the volunteers themselves. This umbrella review examined the benefits of volunteering and their potential moderators. Eleven databases were searched for systematic reviews on the social, mental, physical, or general health benefits of volunteering, published up to July 2022. AMSTAR 2 was used to assess quality and overlap of included primary studies was calculated. Twenty-eight reviews were included; participants were mainly older adults based in the USA. Although overlap between reviews was low, quality was generally poor. Benefits were found in all three domains, with reduced mortality and increased functioning exerting the largest effects. Older age, reflection, religious volunteering, and altruistic motivations increased benefits most consistently. Referral of social prescribing clients to volunteering is recommended. Limitations include the need to align results to research conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022349703). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11266-023-00573-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Nichol
- Department of Social Work, Education, and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
| | - Rob Wilson
- Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
| | - Angela Rodrigues
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
| | - Catherine Haighton
- Department of Social Work, Education, and Community Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
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Volunteering in nature: a win–win strategy for healthy people and healthy nature. LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11355-023-00542-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
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Glasdam S, Karidar H, Lundqvist P, Stjernswärd S. Unity strengthens and inhibits development: A focus group interview with volunteer adults in support programs for bereaved children and their family. DEATH STUDIES 2023:1-11. [PMID: 36601887 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2160521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This article illuminates (inter)actions and group dynamics of adult volunteers in programs for bereaved children and parents. A focus group interview with seven volunteers in Swedish was conducted. A latent, thematic analysis was conducted, inspired by Braun and Clarke, and Goffman. Two themes were constructed: Personal despair as a motivation for establishing and consolidating voluntary involvement and The volunteers acted as an extended family. Group dynamics within the group contributed to uphold volunteers' adherence to formal and informal guidance related to the program. Strong engagement among volunteers and internal recruitment strategies contributed to uphold and consolidate the program's implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stinne Glasdam
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hakima Karidar
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Palliative and Advanced Homecare (ASIH) Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pia Lundqvist
- Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Long NJ, Appleton NS, Davies SG, Deckert A, Fehoko E, Holroyd E, Martin-Anatias N, Sterling R, Trnka S, Tunufa’i L. Pathways and obstacles to social recovery following the elimination of SARS-CoV-2 from Aotearoa New Zealand: a qualitative cross-sectional study. J Public Health (Oxf) 2022; 44:e548-e556. [PMID: 35020940 PMCID: PMC8807192 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many public health experts have claimed that elimination strategies of pandemic response allow 'normal social life' to resume. Recognizing that social connections and feelings of normality are important for public health, this study examines whether, and for whom, that goal is realized, and identifies obstacles that may inhibit its achievement. METHODS Thematic analysis of narratives obtained via a qualitative cross-sectional survey of a community cohort in Aotearoa | New Zealand. RESULTS A majority of participants reported that life after elimination was 'more or less the same' as before the pandemic. Some became more social. Nevertheless, a sizeable minority reported being less social, even many months after elimination. Key obstacles to social recovery included fears that the virus was circulating undetected and the enduring impact of lockdowns upon social relationships, personal habits and mental health. Within our sample, old age and underlying health conditions were both associated with a propensity to become less social. CONCLUSIONS Elimination strategies can successfully allow 'normal social life' to resume. However, this outcome is not guaranteed. People may encounter difficulties with re-establishing social connections in Zero-COVID settings. Measures designed to overcome such obstacles should be an integral part of elimination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sharyn Graham Davies
- School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia,School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Antje Deckert
- School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Edmond Fehoko
- School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Eleanor Holroyd
- Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
| | - Nelly Martin-Anatias
- School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | | | - Susanna Trnka
- School of Social Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Laumua Tunufa’i
- School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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