How is volunteering associated with reduced mortality? A mediator-wide approach.

Nakamura JS, Shiba K, Shi B, Leong RS, VanderWeele TJ, Kim ES

Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association · May 1, 2025

Journal Article

Objective: Volunteering has been repeatedly associated with reduced mortality in older adults, yet research examining the mechanisms explaining this association remains limited. We used prospective data from 9,962 participants in the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018). Results: After adjusting for demographic confounders and mediators in the prebaseline wave, we observed evidence of mediation for those who volunteered ≥100 hr/year (vs. 0 hr/year) through combined physical health factors (proportion mediated [PM] = 49.56%, p = .004) and social factors (PM = 90.76%, p = .017) as well as through increased contact with friends (PM = 25.34%, p = .015) and helping friends/neighbors/relatives (PM = 25.12%, p = .018). Conclusions: These results inform basic science, interventions, and policies by identifying potential mechanisms to promote longevity in our rapidly aging population.

PMID: 40232787 · DOI: 10.1037/hea0001429

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How is volunteering associated with reduced mortality? A mediator-wide approach.

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