Actuality¹⁴⁹

Doing good feels good - 15 good reasons to volunteer!

FEELING GOOD AT WORK

Par

Nathan Treton

JCCM

If you're already volunteering, you probably know that it's good for your physical and mental health. But beyond your personal experience, several studies and research have concretely demonstrated the benefits of volunteering. Here are some examples.

1. Volunteering is good for your mental health.

In their two studies titled "Doing Good is Good for You" and the "2017 Health and Volunteering Study," the UnitedHealth Group asserts that volunteering helps people manage and reduce stress. Approximately 94% of respondents reported that their volunteer activities improved their mood. Volunteers also exhibited better emotional health compared to non-volunteers, including higher satisfaction with their overall life.

2. Volunteering is good for your physical health.

The UnitedHealth Group study (mentioned above) revealed that 80% of volunteers have better control over their health. As healthcare consumers, they tend to make more informed choices about their well-being. Volunteering, which keeps individuals active, contributes to reducing chronic pain and symptoms of heart disease.

3. Volunteering helps you stay young.

According to a study by Dr. Jens Detollenaere from Ghent University (Belgium), published in Plos One in 2017, individuals engaged in volunteer activities tend to have better health than non-volunteers. In fact, they have a health status equivalent to being 5 years younger than a non-volunteer. In other words, a 50-year-old volunteer has the same level of health as a 45-year-old non-volunteer.

4. Volunteering is good for morale and the brain.

Volunteering increases physical and cognitive activities, which protect against age-related decline and dementia. Research conducted by the University of Arizona showed that highly engaged senior volunteers have a 27% reduced risk of developing cognitive disorders. The researchers at the University of Arizona were so convinced of the benefits of these activities that they recommended prescribing them by geriatricians.

5. Volunteering reduces the chances of high blood pressure by 40%.

This study was conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, and it demonstrated a link between volunteering and reduced blood pressure. Starting in 2006 and published in the journal Psychology and Aging, this study surveyed 1,164 adults aged 51 to 91 with normal blood pressure. Four years after the initial survey, the same individuals were interviewed again. Experts compared the two sets of data and found that people who volunteered for at least 200 hours annually had a 40% lower chance of having high blood pressure.

6. Volunteering increases life expectancy.

A study conducted in Michigan confirmed an extension of life expectancy. Over a period of 10 years, 2,700 men were surveyed about their volunteering practices. The results showed that those who regularly engaged in volunteering had a mortality rate two and a half times lower than others.

7. Volunteering helps combat depression.

Social isolation is a risk factor for depression. Volunteering helps build interpersonal relationships and a support network, both of which are useful tools for overcoming difficulties and combating depression.

8. Volunteering alters our perception of time.

Devoting a few hours to those in need can make us feel like we have more time. Indeed, a study published in 2012 in Psychological Science showed that the satisfaction of giving time to others can alleviate the feeling of "time scarcity" by altering our perception.

9. Volunteering boosts self-confidence.

Would you like to have a better opinion of yourself and your abilities? Could you be more satisfied with your life? Volunteering can help in all these respects, in addition to fostering a sense of pride and identity.

10. Volunteering expands our social network.

Volunteering helps you form new friendships and make new acquaintances. Interpersonal relationships, social gatherings, and opportunities to come together for a common purpose can also lead to a greater sense of community belonging.

11. Volunteering lowers your cholesterol levels.

A study published in April 2013 in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics concluded that teenagers who engage in volunteer activities once a week experience measurable health benefits. During the study, young volunteers saw a decrease in their blood cholesterol levels and body mass index compared to the group that did not participate in such activities. Additionally, social engagement leads to improved self-esteem and a decrease in negative or depressive feelings.

12. Volunteering helps improve our social skills.

Some of us find it very challenging to make new connections. Volunteering provides introverted individuals with the opportunity to develop and practice their social skills in an informal environment among like-minded people.

13. Volunteering can advance our careers.

Volunteering is also an excellent way to expand your professional network. If you're considering a career change, volunteering can introduce you to a new professional field and connect you with people who can offer guidance. What better way to determine if a career in social work or counseling is right for you than by working in a shelter for domestic violence victims or with the homeless? Moreover, according to a study conducted by Léger for RABQ, 38% of young volunteers (18-35 years old) found employment with an organization they had volunteered for.

14. Volunteering allows us to acquire new skills.

Whether it's fundraising, marketing activities, event planning, communications, public speaking, training, or leadership skills, volunteers can learn and apply skills that can benefit them in both their professional and personal lives. According to the Léger study, 86% of young respondents stated that they acquired new skills through their volunteer experiences.

15. Volunteering promotes work-life balance.

If you enjoy the outdoors but spend most of your workday in an office, coaching a youth soccer team or contributing to the maintenance of a community garden can provide outdoor recreation while helping your community. Similarly, if you are a self-employed professional with a home office, volunteering is a way to collaborate with others, have fun, and build relationships with your community.

Bibliography

Infurna, F. J., Okun, M. A., et Grimm, K. J. (2016). Volunteering is associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 64(11), 2263-2269. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...

UnitedHealth Group (2013). Doing Good is Good for You. 2013 Health and Volunteering Study. https://www.unitedhealthgroup....

Study.pdf

UnitedHealth Group (2017). Doing Good is Good for You. 2017 Health and Volunteering Study. https://newsroom.uhc.com/conte...

Detollenaere, J., Willems, S., & Baert, S. (2017). Volunteering, income and health. PLOS ONE, 12(3). https://biblio.ugent.be/public...

Moreno MA., Furtner F. et Rivara FP. (2013) Adolescent Volunteering. JAMA Pediatrics; 167(4):400. https://jamanetwork.com/journa...

Konrath, S., Fuhrel-Forbis, A., Lou, A. et Brown, S. (2012). Motives for volunteering are associated with mortality risk in older adults. Health Psychology, 31(1), 87. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journ...

Sneed, R. S. et Cohen, S. (2013). A prospective study of volunteerism and hypertension risk in older adults. Psychology and aging, 28(2), 578–586. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...

Carnegie Mellon University. (2013) Volunteering reduces risk of hypertension in older adults. Science Daily. 13 June 2013.

Carnegie Mellon University. (2013, June 13). Volunteering reduces risk of hypertension in older adults. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/r...