TY - JOUR
T1 - Volunteering as a predictor of all-cause mortality
T2 - What aspects of volunteering really matter?
AU - Ayalon, Liat
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - Background: This study evaluates the predictive effects of different aspects of volunteering (e.g. volunteering status, number of hours, number of years, and type of volunteering activity) on all-cause mortality. Methods: A seven-year follow-up dataset of a nationally representative sample of Israelis, 60 years and older was used. Results: As expected, volunteering was associated with a reduced mortality risk even after adjusting for age, gender, education, baseline mental health and physical health, activity level, and social engagement. Those who volunteered for 10 to 14 years had a reduced mortality risk relative to non-volunteers. In addition, those who volunteered privately, not as part of an official organization, also had a reduced mortality risk compared to non-volunteers. The number of hours of volunteering was not a significant predictor of all-cause mortality in the fully adjusted model. In additional sensitivity analyses limited to those who volunteered, none of the various aspects of volunteering was associated with a reduced mortality risk. Conclusions: Results suggest that not all aspects of volunteering have the same predictive value and that the protective effects of length of volunteering time and type of volunteering are particularly important. However, whether or not volunteering is the most consistent predictor of mortality and whether once a person volunteers the various aspects of volunteering are no longer associated with mortality risk.
AB - Background: This study evaluates the predictive effects of different aspects of volunteering (e.g. volunteering status, number of hours, number of years, and type of volunteering activity) on all-cause mortality. Methods: A seven-year follow-up dataset of a nationally representative sample of Israelis, 60 years and older was used. Results: As expected, volunteering was associated with a reduced mortality risk even after adjusting for age, gender, education, baseline mental health and physical health, activity level, and social engagement. Those who volunteered for 10 to 14 years had a reduced mortality risk relative to non-volunteers. In addition, those who volunteered privately, not as part of an official organization, also had a reduced mortality risk compared to non-volunteers. The number of hours of volunteering was not a significant predictor of all-cause mortality in the fully adjusted model. In additional sensitivity analyses limited to those who volunteered, none of the various aspects of volunteering was associated with a reduced mortality risk. Conclusions: Results suggest that not all aspects of volunteering have the same predictive value and that the protective effects of length of volunteering time and type of volunteering are particularly important. However, whether or not volunteering is the most consistent predictor of mortality and whether once a person volunteers the various aspects of volunteering are no longer associated with mortality risk.
KW - Activity theory
KW - Continuity theory
KW - Death
KW - Resilience
KW - Role strain
KW - Role theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=50149104023&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1041610208007096
DO - 10.1017/S1041610208007096
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 18397546
AN - SCOPUS:50149104023
SN - 1041-6102
VL - 20
SP - 1000
EP - 1013
JO - International Psychogeriatrics
JF - International Psychogeriatrics
IS - 5
ER -