Volunteering Bad for Your Health?

Posting Date: 05/18/2004

Dr. Dean's Comment; Can this really be? So many of us have automatically assumed that volunteering is one of the ways we can increase our own mental health. Giving to others has been seen as a path to well being and connectedness and good health in the giver. Not so says this sure to be controversial research. Read and see what you think.

Voluntary Work Is Good for Society, but May Not be So Good for the Individual

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Voluntary work might be very good for the community, but it isn't necessarily good for the health of those who do it, suggests a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The research is based on a survey of 530 people and interviews with 16 people about their involvement with an assortment of voluntary groups within the preceding 12 months. They were asked about their mental and physical wellbeing.

Over half of the respondents had been involved with a voluntary organisation in the last year. Almost one in four had been involved in groups associated with sports or leisure. A significant number had volunteered for work related, community, or social action groups.

The results showed that the greater the diversity of involvement with a voluntary group, the worse the physical health of the volunteer was.

In terms of mental health, older people seemed to fare better than younger people, and those who worked full or part time also enjoyed better mental health. Higher income and fewer children also signified better mental health. Involvement in a voluntary group did not affect mental wellbeing.

Few interview respondents linked involvement in a voluntary group with a positive effect on health; in fact, the reverse seemed to be true.

They emphasised the benefits to the community as a whole, but only two associated their involvement with personal wellbeing, such as the chance to meet new people, learn new skills, and be stimulated by the work itself.

They were more likely to express the downside of involvement in voluntary groups, such as witnessing depressing and difficult situations, or to consider the toll taken on physical health. And one in 10 of the questionnaire respondents said they felt that their own health problems would make it difficult for them to volunteer.

The authors conclude that while volunteering seems to benefit the community, it may be bad for the health of volunteers.