Volunteering and Wellbeing: Why Service Helps Your People Flourish

Original article: Volunteering and Human Flourishing
Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, August 25, 2020
Read the full story at the Human Flourishing Program →

An essay from the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard by Dr. Tyler J. VanderWeele explains how regular volunteering was linked to better wellbeing and longer life among older adults. First published in 2020, it describes a study of about 13,000 people in the Health and Retirement Study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, that followed participants over eight years.

What the research on volunteering found

The researchers compared people who volunteered at least two hours a week with people who did not volunteer at all, while accounting for their earlier health and wellbeing.

• Older adults who volunteered at least two hours a week reported more happiness, optimism and purpose in life, and more contact with friends, four years later.
• They had fewer depressive symptoms and less hopelessness and loneliness, plus fewer perceived physical limitations and more physical activity.
• They were about 40% less likely to die during the four years of follow-up.
• The study found no evidence that volunteering prevents hypertension or lung disease, and little evidence that it raises life satisfaction.

Why it matters for your organization

Service gives people purpose and connection, two things many organizations work hard to build. A regular, easy way to give a couple of hours a week can matter more than a single big event. Employers, associations and churches can make that rhythm simple to join and share the stories that come from it.

Frequently asked questions

Is volunteering good for your health?

In the study the essay describes, older adults who volunteered at least two hours a week had better outcomes on many measures of wellbeing four years later. They were also about 40% less likely to die during follow-up. The essay notes that some outcomes, such as hypertension and lung disease, showed no benefit.

How much volunteering is linked to better wellbeing?

The study compared people who volunteered at least two hours a week with people who did not volunteer at all. The essay notes that Stephen Post has suggested about two hours a week as a kind of "prescription" for volunteering.

Who ran the volunteering and wellbeing study?

The study was led by Eric S. Kim with Ashley Whillans, Matthew T. Lee, Ying Chen and Tyler J. VanderWeele. It was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2020 and used data from about 13,000 participants in the Health and Retirement Study.

Does your organization make it easy for people to serve together? Share it in the comments.