Volunteering and Well-Being in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Fujita Koji, Yokoyama Yuri, Nishi Mariko, Matsunaga Hiroko, Fujiwara Yoshinori
Primary Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology
Hypothesis
More frequent participation in volunteering among older adults is associated with higher subjective well-being.
Conclusion
Older adults who volunteer more frequently report better mental health and subjective well-being.
Supporting Evidence
- The high activity group accounted for 45.6% of participants.
- The low activity group accounted for 35.8% of participants.
- The non-activity group accounted for 18.6% of participants.
- A significant difference in well-being scores was found among the three groups.
Takeaway
Older people who help others by volunteering feel happier and healthier.
Methodology
A questionnaire survey was mailed to 354 older adults, with 204 valid responses analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test.
Limitations
The study relied on self-reported data and had a limited geographic scope.
Participant Demographics
Older adults aged 60 and over from volunteer organizations in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.013
Statistical Significance
p=0.013
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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