Volunteering, Self-Perceptions of Aging, and Mental Health in Later Life

• Published in: The Gerontologist Vol. 61; no. 7; pp. 1131 - 1140
• Main Authors: Huo, Meng, Miller, Lisa M Soederberg, Kim, Kyungmin, Liu, Siwei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01-10-2021
• Subjects: Age discrimination; Aging; Health research; Job characteristics; Mental depression; Mental health; Older people; Perceptions; Research design; Retirement; Self image; Symptoms; Volunteers; Well being; Depression; Health and Retirement Study; Subjective aging; Volunteer; Age stereotype
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaa164

Abstract
Background and Objectives
Scholars argue that volunteering enhances social, physical, and cognitive activities that are increasingly valued as people age, which in turn improves older adults’ well-being via a host of psychosocial and neurobiological mechanisms. This study explicitly tested older adults’ self-perceptions of aging as a mechanism underlying the mental health benefits of volunteering.
Research Design and Methods
Using 2-wave data from the Health and Retirement Study (2008/2010 for Wave 1 and 2012/2014 for Wave 2), we analyzed reports from a pooled sample of older adults aged 65 or older (N = 9,017). Participants reported on demographic characteristics, volunteer work (did not volunteer, 1–99 h/year, 100+ h/year), self-perceptions of aging, and depressive symptoms. We estimated an autoregressive cross-lagged panel model.
Results
Volunteering for 100 h or more per year was associated with older adults’ more positive and less negative self-perceptions of aging in the subsequent wave (i.e., 4 years later), which in turn predicted fewer depressive symptoms.
Discussion and Implications
This study suggests the promising role of volunteering in shaping older adults’ self-perceptions of aging on a sustained basis and refines our understanding of the benefits volunteering brings. Findings shed light on future interventions aimed at improving older adults’ adjustment to age-related changes and lessening ageism in society.