VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering provides a powerful social mechanism to build and maintain social connections with one’s community through an enhanced sense of belonging. There are several pathways through which volunteering may contribute to social wellbeing. Specifically, volunteer networks can create areas for social networks to create and develop with fellow volunteers and the broader community, while mitigating feelings of isolation and loneliness (Russel et al., 2018). Recent studies have demonstrated that volunteers report higher levels of happiness and belonging as compared to non-volunteers (Nichol et al., 2024). For individuals navigating life transitions (i.e. career changes, relocation, illness, or changes in family structure), volunteering and maintaining social engagement may enhance both physical and mental health outcomes.

Our data suggest that levels of volunteering have remained relatively unchanged from 2014 to 2023. A decrease in volunteering observed in 2021 may reflect disruption of social engagement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, individuals aged 35-74 are more likely to have volunteered in the past year than individuals aged 25-35 and 75+, suggesting a lifestyle pattern to engagement in volunteering. Young adults may experience barriers to volunteering due to time constraints in education, career developments, and family responsibilities, and older adults may experience mobility limitations or lack of awareness of volunteer opportunities. 

Furthermore, the positive relationship between volunteering and income level suggest important socioeconomic barriers that exist in participating in volunteering.