Abstract
Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years (n = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | RESEARCH ON AGING |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 9 Oct 2019 |
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Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults : A Randomized Trial Approach. / Jongenelis, Michelle I.; Jackson, Ben; Warburton, Jeni; Newton, Robert U.; Pettigrew, Simone.
In: RESEARCH ON AGING, 09.10.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving Attitudes to Volunteering Among Older Adults
T2 - A Randomized Trial Approach
AU - Jongenelis, Michelle I.
AU - Jackson, Ben
AU - Warburton, Jeni
AU - Newton, Robert U.
AU - Pettigrew, Simone
PY - 2019/10/9
Y1 - 2019/10/9
N2 - Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years (n = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work.
AB - Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years (n = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work.
KW - intention-to-treat
KW - longitudinal
KW - per-protocol
KW - trial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074059832&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0164027519877476
DO - 10.1177/0164027519877476
M3 - Article
JO - RESEARCH ON AGING
JF - RESEARCH ON AGING
SN - 0164-0275
ER -