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Positive emotions in volunteerism.
María Luisa Vecina Jiménez1, Fernando Chacón Fuertes
1Complutense University Madrid, Spain. mvecina@psi.ucm.es
The Spanish Journal of Psychology
|May 7, 2005
Summary
Positive emotions experienced by volunteers are linked to their intention to continue volunteering. This study explores the psychosocial factors influencing sustained volunteer service in organizations.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Volunteerism is a significant social phenomenon facing challenges in integrating theory with practice.
- Sustained volunteer service is a critical issue for many volunteer organizations.
- The psychosocial model of sustained volunteerism provides a framework for understanding volunteer retention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between positive emotions and the intention to remain in volunteer service.
- To investigate volunteer retention within the psychosocial model of sustained volunteerism.
- To explore factors influencing long-term commitment in new volunteers.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study design.
- Data collected from volunteers with less than one year of service.
- Analysis within the framework of Vecina's (2001) psychosocial model of sustained volunteerism.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was found between the experience of positive emotions and the intention of volunteers to continue their service.
- Psychosocial factors significantly influence the likelihood of sustained volunteer engagement.
- Early positive emotional experiences appear crucial for volunteer retention.
Conclusions:
- Fostering positive emotions among volunteers is essential for ensuring sustained volunteer service.
- Interventions aimed at enhancing volunteer well-being can improve organizational stability.
- Understanding the psychosocial dynamics of early volunteer experiences is key to long-term commitment.