Abstract

Volunteering has been identified as a potential mechanism for improving the psychosocial health of older adults. Utilizing a randomized controlled trial approach, the present study assessed the extent to which commencing volunteering can improve psychosocial health outcomes for older people. Fully retired Australian adults aged 60+ years (N= 445) were assessed at baseline and allocated to either the intervention or control arms of the trial. Those in the intervention condition were asked to participate in at least 60 min of formal volunteering per week for 6 months. Per-protocol analyses were conducted comparing psychosocial outcomes for those who complied with the intervention condition (n= 73) to outcomes for those who complied with the control condition (n= 112). Those who complied with the intervention condition demonstrated significant improvements in life satisfaction, purpose in life, and personal growth scores over a 12-month period relative to those in the control condition who did no volunteering. Findings provide evidence of a causal relationship between commencing volunteering and improvements in psychosocial health among older adults and indicate that encouraging participation in this activity could constitute an effective healthy aging intervention.

摘要

志愿服务已被确定为改善老年人心理社会健康的潜在机制。利用随机对照试验方法，本研究评估了开始志愿服务在多大程度上可以改善老年人的心理社会健康结果。60 岁以上完全退休的澳大利亚成年人 ( N = 445) 在基线时进行了评估，并被分配到试验的干预组或对照组。那些处于干预状态的人被要求每周参加至少 60 分钟的正式志愿服务，为期 6 个月。对符合干预条件 ( n = 73)的人的心理社会结果与符合控制条件的人 ( n= 112)。与没有参加志愿服务的对照组相比，那些遵守干预条件的人在 12 个月内的生活满意度、生活目标和个人成长得分都有显着提高。研究结果提供了开始志愿服务与老年人心理社会健康改善之间存在因果关系的证据，并表明鼓励参与这项活动可以构成有效的健康老龄化干预措施。