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Factors associated with formal volunteering among retirees

Author

Listed:
  • Michelle I. Jongenelis

    (The University of Melbourne
    Curtin University)

  • Liyuwork Mitiku Dana

    (Curtin University)

  • Jeni Warburton

    (LaTrobe University)

  • Ben Jackson

    (University of Western Australia)

  • Robert U. Newton

    (Edith Cowan University)

  • Zenobia Talati

    (Curtin University)

  • Simone Pettigrew

    (Curtin University
    The George Institute for Global Health)

Abstract

The present study developed and tested a comprehensive multivariate model designed to assess the relative importance of various factors found or proposed in previous research to be associated with engagement in volunteering among 799 fully retired Australian older adults (62% female; mean age = 71.92 years (SD = 6.69)). Engagement in volunteering in the 12 months preceding the study and a range of sociodemographic, psychological, physical, social, and attitudinal variables were measured. Respondents’ perceived personal responsibility to volunteer was found to be especially important in the tested model. This variable was directly associated with engagement in volunteering and acted as an important mediator between the following variables and volunteering engagement: personal growth, social connectedness, religious attendance, self-rated health, and depression. Efforts to increase volunteering engagement among older adults may therefore need to target perceptions of their responsibility to volunteer. Especially important focus areas for future strategies may include increasing social connectedness, facilitating personal growth, and improving self-rated health.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle I. Jongenelis & Liyuwork Mitiku Dana & Jeni Warburton & Ben Jackson & Robert U. Newton & Zenobia Talati & Simone Pettigrew, 2020. "Factors associated with formal volunteering among retirees," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 229-239, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:17:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s10433-019-00539-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-019-00539-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Grand H.-L. Cheng & Angelique Chan & Truls Østbye & Rahul Malhotra, 2022. "The association of human, social, and cultural capital with prevalent volunteering profiles in late midlife," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 95-105, March.
    3. Miya Chang, 2022. "Comparative Study on Volunteering among Older Korean Immigrants in the United States and Older Koreans in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Hanna Vangen & Tale Hellevik & Katharina Herlofson, 2021. "Associations between paid and unpaid work among Norwegian seniors: competition, complementarity or continuity?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 479-489, December.

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