Volunteering Intensity and Psychological Well-Being Among Low-Income Older Adults

Background/Purpose:

Formal volunteering has been demonstrated to be beneficial for health and well-being of older individuals. Existing evidence shows that older adults with more resources (i.e. higher income) are more likely to be engaged in volunteering and socio-economically vulnerable older adult has been largely excluded from formal volunteering. From a policy perspective, it is important to identify the ways for the community and organizational environments to engage this vulnerable subgroup of older adults population in volunteering. To date, there is a fairly limited empirical study on volunteering and well-being among low-income older people. Based on role strain theory, this study examined to what extent the association between volunteering intensity and psychological well-being vary by income status.

Methods:

Data came from Health and Retirement Study (HRS)’s wave 2008 (T1) and 2012 (T2). An analytical sample was restricted to older adults aged 65 and older in 2008, those who participated in both waves (N=2,071). Volunteering was measured with three levels of intensity (i.e. low, moderate, high). Income status was measured with three poverty levels (i.e. non-poor, near poor, poor). For psychological well-being, life satisfaction scale was used. A hierarchical regression model was employed to examine to what extent income status moderates the beneficial effect of volunteering on life satisfaction. Socio-demographics, social support, and health conditions were controlled. All predictors at T1 and life satisfaction at T2 were used. Life satisfaction at T1 was included as a lag variable to control for possible reverse causality.

Results:

In consistent with previous research, higher levels of volunteering in old age were significantly related to higher life satisfaction when adjusting for poverty level and control variables. However, compared to the non-poor people, near-poor older individuals were less likely to be satisfied with their life when engaged with a moderate level of volunteering. (Coef= -.64, P=0.026). Interestingly, no relationship was found between near-poor older adults when they engaged a high level of volunteering. Also, there was no association among poor group regardless of their volunteer intensity. 

Conclusion/Implication:

The desire for meaningful engagement such as volunteering may be universal, yet our societies have not made it possible for everyone to continue to contribute and engage in meaningful ways such as formal volunteering. Our study showed for near-poor older adults, moderate level of formal volunteering may not be psychologically beneficial for them. In consistent with the role strain theory, our findings suggest that role flexibility, people’s ability to manage their own schedule, could be important to low-income older adults since they are more likely to experience role strain. It is important for an organization, when engaging and encouraging low-income older adults in formal volunteering, must institute more flexibility in their program.