Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Purposes. Late-life volunteering is viewed as an empowerment process whereby older adults can control their lives and participate in the community. It is also an important component of social welfare service delivery in America. An understanding of racial differences in volunteering among elders can be applied to empower minority older adults as volunteers. As the Baby Boomer generation reaches 60 and more older volunteers are involved in community services, it is important to understand racial differences in late-life volunteering and the positive outcomes associated with volunteering.

Methods. This pilot study examines what racial differences exist in the late-life volunteer experience and whether the association between volunteering and health varies across races. Questionnaires about volunteering or other activity participation were completed by 194 adults aged 50 and over in a metropolitan city. Volunteer experience was captured by time commitment, activity type, and the total number of organizations where the respondent volunteered. Perceived benefit included a composite variable of psychosocial benefits related to volunteering and a measure of health change since volunteering in a designated program. Health indicators included self-reported health, depression, and functional limitation. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to answer research questions.

Results. The findings indicated that minority older adults were less likely to volunteer in organizations. However, once engaged, they committed more volunteer hours at a more frequent basis. Non-Whites were more likely to collect, prepare, distribute, and serve food whereas Whites tended to tutor or teach in terms of volunteer activity. Non-Whites were also more likely to report improved health status since volunteering and to perceive more psychosocial benefits from volunteering. The study indicated that volunteer status was only related to depression for the White sample but was related to all health outcomes for the non-White sample with better self-rated health, lower level of depression, and fewer difficulties in physical functioning. Thus a stronger association existed between volunteering and health indicators among minority older adults in this sample.

Implications. This study suggests that inclusion of minority older adults in volunteering is beneficial to themselves as well as the community and that volunteering engagement with increased physical and cognitive activities may have the potential to address health disparities. With the aging of the baby boomers and increasing racial and ethnic diversification, older people, especially minority older adults, will become a large, but underutilized, resource for responding to community needs. Social workers in voluntary organizations and social service agencies are in key positions to recruit minority older adults with the efforts to eliminate inequalities, overcome racial barriers to organizational volunteering, and expand positive outcomes.