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Motivations, Relationships, Health and Quality of Life of Older Volunteers in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Marco Socci

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Andrea Principi

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Mirko Di Rosa

    (Centre for Biostatistics and Applied Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Sabrina Quattrini

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Davide Lucantoni

    (Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

Within the active ageing framework, this study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on older volunteers, in order to explore the possible relation between, on the one hand, changes in their health, social relationships and quality of life due to the pandemic and, on the other hand, volunteers’ motivations and (direct or indirect) experience of the COVID-19 contagion. Although various active-ageing-related issues have been studied during the pandemic, the studies did not cover the topic of the present study. Therefore, the results of this study advance the knowledge on the matter. A sample of 240 older volunteers was surveyed in Italy in July–August 2021. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. The results highlighted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, for older people, volunteering in order to avoid thinking about personal problems was related to worsened health, while volunteering for social reasons was inversely related to a worsening quality of life. Having indirectly (by acquaintances) experienced the COVID-19 contagion was protective against the worsening physical health of older volunteers. The discussion includes the policy implications of the results.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Socci & Andrea Principi & Mirko Di Rosa & Sabrina Quattrini & Davide Lucantoni, 2023. "Motivations, Relationships, Health and Quality of Life of Older Volunteers in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10739-:d:1189370
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aviad Tur-Sinai & Netta Bentur & Giovanni Lamura, 2022. "Perceived deterioration in health status among older adults in Europe and Israel following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1243-1250, December.
    2. Musick, Marc A. & Wilson, John, 2003. "Volunteering and depression: the role of psychological and social resources in different age groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 259-269, January.
    3. Prouteau, Lionel & Wolff, Francois-Charles, 2006. "Does volunteer work pay off in the labor market?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 992-1013, December.
    4. Nancy Morrow-Howell, 2010. "Volunteering in Later Life: Research Frontiers," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 65(4), pages 461-469.
    5. Andrea Principi & Davide Lucantoni & Sabrina Quattrini & Mirko Di Rosa & Marco Socci, 2022. "Changes in Volunteering of Older Adults in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Motivations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    6. Sara Santini & Marco Socci & Paolo Fabbietti & Giovanni Lamura & Andrea Teti, 2022. "Factors Worsening and Mitigating the Consequences of the COVID-19 Outbreak on the Overall Health of Informal Caregivers of Older People with Long-Term Care Needs Living in Germany and in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-21, February.
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    1. Beata Bieszk-Stolorz & Krzysztof Dmytrów, 2023. "The Well-Being-Related Living Conditions of Elderly People in the European Union—Selected Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-18, December.

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