Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach.

Kim ES, Whillans AV, Lee MT, Chen Y, VanderWeele TJ

American journal of preventive medicine · August 1, 2020

Introduction: Growing evidence documents strong associations between volunteering and favorable health and well-being outcomes. Methods: Data were from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a large, diverse, prospective cohort of U.S. adults aged >50 years. Results: During the 4-year follow-up period, participants who volunteered ≥100 hours/year (versus 0 hours/year) had a reduced risk of mortality and physical functioning limitations, higher physical activity, and better psychosocial outcomes (higher: positive affect, optimism, and purpose in life; lower: depressive symptoms, hopelessness, loneliness, and infrequent contact with friends). Conclusions: With further research, volunteering is an activity that physicians might suggest to their willing and able patients as a way of simultaneously enhancing health and society.

PMID: 32536452 · DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.03.004