Antecedents and Outcomes of Older Adults’ Motivations to Volunteer With Experience Corps®

This study examined factors associated with motivations to volunteer among older adults and how these motivations related to the subsequent volunteer experience. Focusing on one large national program, Experience Corps (EC), the authors interviewed 510 volunteers at the time they first volunteered for EC and again after one year of service. Eighty-seven percent were females, with ages ranging from 50 to 93 years. Volunteers were asked why they volunteered for this program; open-ended responses were coded into four types of motivations. Results showed that 33% reported altruistic motives; another 36% reported a mixture of altruistic and self-oriented motives, followed by self-oriented motives (16%) and practical features of the program (15%). Motivational type was regressed on demographic antecedents as well as volunteer history and receiving a stipend. Findings showed that African Americans and males were more likely to be motivated by altruism, whereas non-African Americans were more likely to report volunteering because of practical features of the program. Women were more likely than men to report being motivated by altruistic and self-benefit motives. Thus, recruitment messages regarding the altruistic nature of the volunteer work could be targeted toward older African Americans. Further, appealing to the possibility of doing good for others while doing good for oneself may appeal to older women. In regards to outcomes, motivation type did not affect the volunteer experience, suggesting that retaining volunteers may require different programmatic efforts than recruiting, such as providing supervision and recognizing volunteers’ contributions.     

Age and motives for volunteering: testing hypotheses derived from socioemotional selectivity theory

Following a meta-analysis of the relations between age and volunteer motives (career, understanding, enhancement, protective, making friends, social, and values), the authors tested hypotheses derived from socioemotional selectivity theory regarding the effects of age on these volunteer motives. The Volunteer Functions Inventory was completed by 523 volunteers from 2 affiliates of the International Habitat for Humanity. Multiple regression analyses revealed, as predicted, that as age increases, career and understanding volunteer motivation decrease and social volunteer motivation increases. Contrary to expectations, age did not contribute to the prediction of enhancement, protective, and values volunteer motivations and the relation between age and making friends volunteer motivation was nonlinear. The results were discussed in the context of age-differential and age-similarity perspectives on volunteer motivation.     

Positive emotional expectations predict volunteer outcomes for new volunteers

Emotional expectations are likely to influence behavioral outcomes, even when entering novel situations. In the present study, it was proposed that positive emotional expectations would influence volunteer outcomes for new volunteers. New and experienced volunteers were recruited for a two-part longitudinal study. Study hypotheses were confirmed. The mere anticipation of positive emotions was able to predict volunteer outcomes for new volunteers. Emotional expectations (i.e., sympathy, satisfaction) were positively associated with intentions to continue volunteering, identification with the volunteer role, and predicted volunteer persistence 6 months later for new volunteers. For experienced volunteers, emotional expectations were only significantly and positively associated with volunteer role identity. Moreover, the intent to persist as a volunteer was found to have a stronger positive association with actual persistence for experienced volunteers than for new volunteers.     

Motivation as Mediator Between National Identity and Intention to Volunteer

Although there is a large volume of research on the relationship between social identity and volunteerism, little attention was given to national identity in volunteerism research. This study examined the role of national identity in motivating people to volunteer in the Chinese culture and its role in differentiating those who showed no interest in voluntary work (i.e. non‐volunteers) from those who wanted to volunteer but did not (i.e. potential volunteers). Two hundred ninety‐nine participants (age, M = 34.14 years) filled out a questionnaire on their demographics, experience of volunteering, intention to volunteer, volunteer motivations, and national identity. Results showed that a stronger national identity was associated with greater volunteer motivations. Mediation analyses further supported the positive indirect effect of national identity on intention to volunteer through strengthening volunteer motivations. Marital status was the only significant factor that differentiated current volunteers from potential volunteers. We concluded that citizens’ volunteer motivation increases with national identity, yet concrete measures to bring potential volunteers to actual volunteering need to be further explored. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

V for Volunteer(ing)��The Journeys of Undergraduate Volunteers

This article studies undergraduate students journeys in volunteering, and details the motivations of and challenges that these volunteers face during the journey. We conducted five focus groups on a total of 38 undergraduate volunteers, and obtained seven themes as we undertook an investigation of our three research questions. Our findings revolved around these seven themes, which ranged from motivations to experiences to challenges. Our findings have helped us understand the motivations and challenges that undergraduate volunteers have and face during the journey of volunteering. Some of these challenges are particular to a university setting, but some others can certainly be generalized to other settings. Recommendations for future research are also included.     

Volunteer recruitment: the role of organizational support and anticipated respect in non-volunteers' attraction to charitable volunteer organizations

In 3 experiments the authors examined how specific characteristics of charitable volunteer organizations contribute to the recruitment of new volunteers. In line with predictions, Study 1 revealed that providing non-volunteers with information about organizational support induced anticipated feelings of respect, which subsequently enhanced their attraction to the volunteer organization. However, information about the current success of the volunteer organization did not affect anticipated pride (as among those who seek paid employment) and in fact caused potential volunteers to perceive the organization as being in less need for additional volunteers. Study 2 further showed that information about support from the volunteer organization is a more relevant source of anticipated respect and organizational attraction than support from co-volunteers. Study 3 finally showed that information about task and emotional support for volunteers contributes to anticipated respect and organizational attractiveness and that this increases the actual willingness of non-volunteers to participate in the volunteer organization. Interventions aimed at attracting volunteers and avenues for further research are discussed.     

The Relationship between Coping Strategies and Perceived Stress in Telephone Intervention Volunteers at a Suicide Prevention Center

This study examines stress perceived by telephone intervention volunteers at a suicide prevention center before their shift, during the most high-urgency call, and after the shift. Eighty of the 82 active volunteers completed questionnaires concerning stress, coping strategies, motivations for volunteer work, and experiences with suicide. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that only one variable, the amount of experience in telephone intervention with suicidal persons, predicted stress level before the shift; volunteers with more experience tended to be less stressed. Stress during the most urgent call was related first to the level of urgency of the call, then to the total length of all calls received, followed by the coping mechanisms of magical thinking, detachment, and feeling personally responsible. Stress after the shift was related first to the total amount of time spent on calls, then to the number of other persons present during the shift. Stress after the shift was also negatively related to amount of education and having realistic expectations about interventions. Magical thinking was positively related to stress, and the mechanism of positive thinking was negatively related. A high proportion of volunteers had attempted suicide, had previous thoughts about suicide, and had known persons who attempted or died by suicide. These findings are discussed as to their implications for the selection and training of volunteers in suicide prevention.     

Becoming Visible: Jewish Senior Volunteers

Jewish older women who serve as volunteers were interviewed for this pilot study. Older persons who volunteer time and expertise make a valuable contribution to their older community. This study examined the perceptions that seniors have of themselves as contributing members to their Jewish community. Interviews and focus groups were held where the Jewish women spoke of their motivations for volunteering, frustrations and satisfactions. Interviews were also held with volunteer coordinators of three Jewish settings in Toronto. The needs of the community and the needs of the older Jewish woman are considered. Older volunteers want to be more visible, to have their contributions recognized as a vital component of their own mental health. Volunteer settings provide networks and support groups, while contributing to the well-being of the Jewish community members.     

Increasing volunteering at a residential facility: An experimental evaluation of a volunteer assistance program

A helpful component for comprehensive residential services for developmentally disabled persons is volunteer assistance. This investigation involved the evaluation of a program developed to increase the amount of volunteer assistance provided to a public residential facility. The program consisted of three types of related procedures: systematic volunteer recruitment steps, specific volunteer activities at the facility, and consequence/recognition for the volunteer assistance. The program was successively implemented to involve students as volunteers from two local universities, and resulted in an increase in new students volunteering from both universities. Additionally, the frequency with which the students volunteered at the residential facility increased substantially from both universities relative to control periods during which the volunteer program was not in effect. Results are discussed in terms of the benefits of volunteers and continued research to increase involvement of other prospective groups of volunteers.     

Beyond Skills and Structure: Justice Dispositions as Antecedents of Young Citizens' Volunteering and Political Participation

Community involvement is usually attributed to opportunity structures and individuals' ability to be involved. Building on psychological justice research, this paper proposes that justice dispositions add to explaining why young citizens become active in their communities or not. Furthermore, it is argued that justice dispositions help to understand why most studies find only moderate relationships between youth volunteering and forms of political involvement. In a sample of 321 young Swiss volunteers, this study shows justice centrality and belief in a just world to predict the extent of volunteering and political participation, even after controlling for civic skills and opportunity structures. However, scrutinising the motivations to volunteer, self‐oriented motivations (enhancement, social, career and understanding) more strongly affected the level of volunteering than motivations related to justice dispositions (political responsibility and social responsibility). These findings have implications for the attraction and retention of volunteers as well as for the politics of volunteering and community development in general. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Volunteering,social ministry and ethical-behavioural attitudes in post-Soviet Russian Orthodox Christianity

This article explores the principles of volunteer mobilisation in social ministry and diaconal practices in contemporary Russian Orthodoxy. I focus on the main types of faith-based volunteer associations, assistance organisations and official Orthodox centres of social ministry that recruit volunteers. While analysing the mechanisms of attracting volunteers and the types of motivations, I identified two main models of organising communities and social groups: an authoritarian-mystical model and a socially open one. Ethical-behavioural preferences and attitudes determine the motivation of volunteers, as do gender, confessional and ideological-political factors. The analysis is based on both empirical data obtained through interviews with parish priests, organisers of church-based assistance organisations and volunteer associations, and homiletic theological and moral-didactic literature produced within Russian Orthodox Church circles and in official Church documents. I also consider the motivation of volunteers and their ethical-behavioural attitudes in the Russian Orthodox theological context. The article also analyses theological approaches in Russian Orthodoxy, inspired by modern developments in psychology, including self-determination theory and psychological autonomy, as well as ‘humanitarian-anthropological theology’.     

Young People's Experiences of Participation in Clinical Trials: Reasons for Taking Part

Given the lack of knowledge about safety and efficacy of many treatments for children, pediatric clinical trials are important, but recruitment for pediatric research is difficult. Little is known about children's perspective on participating in trials. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences and motivations of young people who took part in clinical trials. This is a qualitative interview study of 25 young people aged 10–23 who were invited to take part in clinical trials. Interviews were audio or video recorded and analyzed using framework analysis. Young peoples' motivations were both personal benefit and helping others. Both incentives appeared to be more complex than expected. We introduce the terms “network of exchange” and “intergenerational solidarity” to describe these motivations. To improve recruitment, professionals should be more open about research opportunities, provide better information, and give young people feedback after the trial has ended.     

Recruitment Strategies for a Home-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Breast Cancer Patients

Recruiting cancer patients for randomized trials investigating psychosocial interventions presents several unique challenges. This paper describes the challenges and yields for different recruitment methods used in Moving Forward, a randomized trial of a home-based moderate-intensity physical activity program for early-stage breast cancer survivors. Recruitment methods included letters sent to patients by their oncologists, direct referrals from oncologists, in-person recruitment in oncology clinics, referrals from nurses and medical assistants, passive recruitment, other mailings, and community outreach strategies. Of the 424 screenings completed, 86 (20.3%) participants were randomized. Physician letters yielded the greatest number of initial screenings (147; 34.7%) and participants randomized (28; 32.5%). In-person recruitment also proved to be a productive recruitment strategy; 14 (16.3%) of the participants were recruited via this strategy. Community outreach efforts did not provide as great a yield and were labor intensive. We discuss suggestions for recruitment of cancer patients in future trials.     

Career Development for Psychology Students through an Inpatient Mental Health Volunteer Programme

We report on a volunteer programme for undergraduate psychology students, as a prospective career pathway into the inpatient mental health context. Data on motives for joining the programme, as well as their expectations and career plans were collected from 56 students (mainly under 25 years of age; approximately 80% females) in a volunteer placement within an inpatient mental health setting. About 89.3% of the volunteers reported being on the programme to enhance their applications for postgraduate training prospects in the same field. Only 10.7% were motivated primarily by the desire to help mentally ill patients. Over three-quarters planned to pursue postgraduate training in clinical psychology.     

The first year: influences on the satisfaction, involvement, and persistence of new community volunteers

This investigation tests an elaborated form of Omoto and Snyder's volunteer process model, which explains how the helping behavior of volunteers is influenced by antecedent factors and by subjective experiences while volunteering. Two-hundred-thirty-eight community volunteers from nine different organizations were recruited at the time of initial orientation and completed measures of personality and motivation. They were contacted at four times during their first year of volunteering and queried regarding their emotional reactions (sympathy, distress), satisfaction, and degree to which their motivations for volunteering were being fulfilled. Consistent with the elaborated model, feelings of sympathy, distress, and motive fulfillment were substantially predicted by antecedent factors, and satisfaction with the volunteer work was substantially predicted by these subjective experiences. Also consistent with the elaborated model, volunteer involvement (hours per week volunteered) was predicted by satisfaction, although volunteer persistence over time was not. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

Motivational needs of adolescent volunteers

This study investigated the motivational needs of adolescent volunteers. The Volunteer Needs Profile (Francies, 1982) was administered to adolescents in a variety of volunteer settings, and data were examined using factor analysis. While there were similarities between the motivations of adolescent and older volunteers, some important differences were found. The findings are explored in the context of the adolescent developmental stage, and implications are discussed.     

Crisis intervention with families of servicemen missing in action

This study investigated reactions and processes in a crisis situation as well as experiences of those who engaged in crisis intervention activities. Thirty-two volunteers, who worked with 55 families of servicemen missing in action during the October 1973 Mideast war, described the families' reactions to the given situation as well as their own involvement. Reactions to crisis and expectations from the volunteers are described and discussed. Special scrutiny was directed at the volunteering phenomenon, and at the volunteers' motivations, needs, reactions, and conflicts.     

How can ‘we’ help? Exploring the role of shared social identity in the experiences and benefits of volunteering

Previous research on volunteering has largely focused on the individual characteristics and experiences of volunteers, or on their relationship with a volunteering organisation, neglecting the group dynamics of volunteering. To address this gap, we apply a social identity and “Social Cure” perspective in a thematic analysis of interviews with 40 volunteers from across the South of England. This analysis highlights that group identities are fundamental to volunteers' motivations and experiences of volunteering. Sharing an identity with other volunteers promoted feelings of belonging, which in turn impacted upon the participants' wellbeing. Identity processes also underpinned interactions with the beneficiaries of help and how volunteers managed the challenges of helping. Finally, shared identity facilitated collective support between volunteers, which was necessary to deal with the challenges of the volunteering role, and this could be facilitated or hindered by the volunteering organisation. We discuss the implications for how volunteering organisations can enhance identity‐mediated helping, as well as for understanding the impact of volunteering on health and wellbeing.     

The Effect of Emotion on Visual Attention to Information and Decision Making in the Context of Informed Consent Process for Clinical Trials

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of emotion on visual information processing and decision making in the context of informed consent. Researchers are ethically obligated to ensure informed consent in clinical trials; however, many volunteers have unrealistic expectations about the value of an experimental therapy. Moreover, suboptimal participation rates for clinical trials may be partially attributable to perceptions that ethical obligations to volunteers are not met. This study examines whether discrete negative emotions (fear, anger, and sadness) differentially influence information processing, visual attention, and decisions in the context of clinical trial informed consent. Community participants completed a standard emotion induction (or control) and then read an actual consent form from a clinical trial while eye movements were tracked. Fear and anger produced the most prominently different patterns of systematic processing and visual attention, such that fear induced longer fixations to information presented, whereas anger induced shorter fixations. Moreover, among women only, fear increased decisions to participate, compared with anger and neutral emotion. Examinations of associations between eye‐tracking variables and self‐reported outcomes indicated that for angry participants only, less systematic processing was associated with greater decisions to participate. Negative emotions of any kind decreased accurate perceptions of trial benefit. These patterns suggest a complex interplay among emotion, processing style, and decision making. Future research is necessary to further probe these effects among potential clinical trial volunteers. Published 2016. This article is a U.S Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

The Role of the Military Psychologist in the Development of National Manpower Policy

Recently, the news media have been critical of military recruitment advertising for its purported emphasis on money for education, civilian job/career development, and personal growth and for its deemphasis of the potential for mobilization and deployment. To examine the implications of these asser- tions, we studied new Army Reserve entrants both before and after Operation Desert Storm (ODs). Specifically, our purposes were (a) to summarize enlistment motivations of new recruits; (b) to identify subpopulations that joined the Army Reserve for specific motivations and variations of those motivations; and (c) to examine the relationships between enlistment motiva- tions, expectations for mobilization, and willingness to report for mobiliza- tion. The study employed two samples of nonprior service, junior-ranking enlistees who had served 1 year or less in the unit. One sample was drawn in 1990 before ODs (n = 1,059) and the other was drawn in 1991 following ODs (n = 757). Both samples were part of a larger probability sample of reservists. Enlistment motivations both before and after ODs were best explained (in order of variance accounted for in factor analyses) by the following factors: Wanting to Experience the Military, Personal Development, Pay/Benefits, and Job/Career Development. Wanting to Experience the Military accounted for more variance after ODs than before, whereas the variance attributable to Personal Development decreased across the two time periods. After ODS, there was a notable absence of college students who joined due to the first three factors. In addition, junior enlistees who joined for Pay/Benefits after ODs were more likely to be married, of a lower educational level, and not attending high school than those who joined before ODs. Both before and after ODs, minorities were more likely than nonminorities to join for each of Requests for reprints should be sent to James Griffith, 24435 Cutsail Drive, Damascus, MD 20872. the enlistment motivations, especially to gain JobKareer Development. Two findings supported the contention that new entrants to the Army Reserve joined and planned to stay through the end of their obligation, mobilization or not. First, career intent (the intention to remain in or leave the Army Reserve) was most strongly related to nearly all enlistment motivations. Second, expectations for mobilization and willingness to report for mobiliza- tion were either significantly and positively or nonsignificantly related to enlistment motivations. Implications of findings for future directions in Army Reserve recruitment incentives are discussed.