Productive Aging by Environmental Volunteerism: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Environmental Science
• Sociology

Background:

• Global challenges of an aging population and climate change require innovative solutions.
• Environmental volunteering emerges as a model for productive aging, linking older adults with nature conservation.
• This review synthesizes current research on environmental volunteerism among older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the current state of environmental volunteerism for older adults.
• To identify types, benefits, motivations, and drawbacks of environmental volunteerism in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, PsycINFO).
• Definition of environmental volunteerism as unpaid nature conservation activity.
• Analysis of 9 studies (328 participants) using narrative synthesis and meta-ethnography.

Main Results:

• Three volunteering types identified: greening, recycling, project-oriented.
• Key factors: physical activity, social connection, meaningful purpose.
• Benefits include improved physical health, mental wellbeing, social capital, personal empowerment; no drawbacks found.
• Motivations: socialization (most common), generativity (unique to older adults), usefulness, pro-environmental attitude.

Conclusions:

• Environmental volunteering presents a positive model for older adults, society, and the environment.
• Policymakers should consider identified motivations to promote older adult participation.
• Further research needed to strengthen evidence and explore diverse volunteerism types.