Although there is a large body of evidence documenting the benefits of engagement in formal volunteering among older people, research assessing the specific aspects of the volunteering experience that are associated with these benefits is limited. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to (i) examine the aspects of volunteering that predict improvements or declines in older people’s psychological outcomes over time and (ii) assess the extent to which demographic characteristics and time spent engaging in informal volunteering moderate the relationship between aspects of volunteering and potential outcomes. At Time 1, non-volunteering Australian older adults completed measures assessing their subjective well-being, eudemonic well-being, and psychological resources and were asked to commence volunteering. At Time 2 (six months later), participants completed the same measures and reported on their volunteering experiences. Among the 108 older adults who provided usable data at both time points (average age = 69.86 years, 64% women), the degree to which participants felt overwhelmed by their volunteer work significantly predicted declines in subjective well-being and psychological resources. The perceived importance of the cause for which participants reported volunteering and the perceived meaningfulness of the specific activities undertaken predicted improvements in these outcomes. Volunteering roles for older adults that (i) are not considered overwhelming, (ii) fulfil their desire to volunteer for a cause about which they are genuinely concerned, and (iii) involve activities perceived to be meaningful are likely to produce the favourable psychological outcomes.

尽管有大量证据证明老年人参与正式志愿服务的好处，但评估与这些好处相关的志愿服务经历的具体方面的研究是有限的。因此，本研究的目的是 (i) 检查预测老年人心理结果随时间的改善或下降的志愿服务的各个方面，以及 (ii) 评估人口特征和参与非正式志愿服务所花费的时间在多大程度上调节这种关系志愿服务的各个方面和潜在结果之间。在时间 1，非志愿服务的澳大利亚老年人完成了评估其主观幸福感、幸福感和心理资源的措施，并被要求开始志愿服务。在时间 2（六个月后），参与者完成了相同的测量并报告了他们的志愿服务经历。在两个时间点都提供可用数据的 108 名老年人（平均年龄 = 69.86 岁，64% 为女性）中，参与者对志愿工作感到不知所措的程度显着预示着主观幸福感和心理资源的下降。参与者报告志愿服务的原因的感知重要性以及所开展的具体活动的意义预示着这些结果的改善。老年人的志愿者角色 (i) 不被认为是压倒性的，(ii) 满足他们为他们真正关心的事业做志愿者的愿望，以及 (iii) 参与被认为有意义的活动可能会产生有利的心理结果.