[Relationship between Age, Hours of Volunteer and Psychological Benefit]

By



Table of Contents

Introduction1

Purpose of the Study2

Rationale of the Study3

Aims and Objectives4

Hypothesis4

Significance of the Study5

Method6

Participants6

Design6

Materials7

Method of Analysis7

Expected Results7

References8

APPENDIX A10

Introduction

Volunteering has become an integral part of British culture. It is very hard to trace the historical origins of volunteering in Britain. It is a fact that voluntary work likely increases individuals' perceptions of social support and their sense of control over life outcomes (Wilson, Musick, 2000). Both social support and sense of control have positive effects on well-being.

There has been some research indicating that symptoms of depression can be lessened as a result of involvement in activities. Control-relevant interventions that provide opportunities to some degree of choice and responsibility have been effective in promoting well-being among hospice care residents. Yet, as evidenced by the continued problem of depression, understanding of the benefits of control-relevant interventions has provided only part of the foundation tor developing environments and programs that support psychosocial well-being.

Sociologists and psychologists have claimed that the developmental tasks of old age are furthered by contributing to society (Wieselquist, 2005). Many people feel an obligation to leave a legacy in appreciation for gifts received over a lifetime. They experience a sense of completion when they put something back into the human treasury. Much of the empirical research supported an association between volunteerism and factors that are correlated with well-being such as reinforcement of self-esteem; development of social support and new roles, and life satisfaction. In contrast, research has also indicated that participation in any volunteer work is not necessarily related to an increase in a sense of well-being (Warburton, 2006).

Researchers including (Tabachnick, 2006) have found that it is important to match the expectations of the individual with the type and level of involvement required by the volunteer activity. Researchers have found that persons categorised as high helpers who also perceived a high personal cost for helping had lower scores of wellbeing than did those who did not perceive a high personal cost for helping.

In this research, the researcher will investigate both the determinants of participation and whether there are differential effects of participation in voluntary work. The researcher will pay particular attention to differential effects of voluntary work across the life course. Researchers have pointed out that the nature and quality of stressors, the coping resources available to the individual, and the salience of specific stressors may change throughout the life course (Swinson, 2006). A great deal of attention has been paid in both the scholarly and popular literature on the role of the elderly in the voluntary workforce. Voluntary work may be particularly important to the elderly who tend to be involved in fewer social roles than individuals of middle- or young adulthood.

Like other social roles, voluntary work should not be viewed as existing in a vacuum. The role of the voluntary worker is structured by economic, political, and cultural factors. Governments, private companies, and non-profit organisations have a vested interest in promoting the view that voluntary work is important and ...