Aging is a time when many people experience a loss of social support and often feel isolated, both of which have negative health impacts. Volunteering can help counteract these effects by fostering new relationships and providing an opportunity to get out of the house more often. Studies have shown that volunteering is associated with greater sense of well-being, a stronger community and an improved outlook on life.
A 2011 study in the journal Health Psychology found that seniors who volunteered for altruistic reasons, such as serving food to others, had a 44% lower risk of death four years later than non-volunteers, and reported better self-rated health, which could be related to reduced stress and depression. Other health benefits are also possible, such as improved cognitive functioning and more regular physical activity, both of which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Volunteering is also an important part of a person’s daily routine, which can increase the likelihood that they will engage in other healthy behaviors. These include more frequent physical activity, healthier eating habits, and limiting harmful behaviors such as binge drinking, smoking and sleep problems.
This study used an outcome-wide analytic approach, which involves estimating the association between changes in volunteering and health and well-being outcomes (e.g., self-rated health and quality of life). The covariates were evaluated in the pre-baseline wave (t0) to reduce concerns about reverse causality, and to allow for an evaluation of the direct effect of volunteering on these outcomes.