Identifying pathways to increased volunteering in older US adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Volunteering is linked to better health and well-being in older adults.
• Factors driving increased volunteering among seniors remain less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify health and well-being predictors of increased volunteering in a national sample of older adults.
• To explore changes in physical health, behaviors, and psychosocial factors associated with subsequent volunteer activity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized longitudinal data from 13,771 participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
• Employed generalized linear regression with a lagged exposure-wide approach to assess 61 predictors over 4-year intervals.
• Analyzed changes in health behaviors, physical health, and psychosocial well-being predicting volunteering 4 years later.

Main Results:

• Increases in physical activity (≥1x/week), improved physical functioning, and reduced cognitive impairment predicted higher volunteering rates.
• Enhanced purpose in life, fewer perceived constraints, and increased social contact with friends were associated with greater volunteerism.
• Few other assessed factors demonstrated significant associations with subsequent volunteering.

Conclusions:

• Changes in physical health, health behaviors, and psychosocial well-being can predict increased volunteering in older adults.
• These identified factors offer potential targets for interventions and policies aimed at promoting senior volunteerism.