Volunteers under threat: AIDS hospice volunteers compared to volunteers in a traditional hospice.
We studied volunteers in one of the world's first AIDS-dedicated hospices and compared them on demographic, experiential, and personality related dimensions to volunteers in a traditional hospice. Eighty percent of the active volunteers at each facility participated. Eight of 16 demographic and 4 of 11 personality related variables differentiated the two groups. AIDS hospice volunteers were on all measures a more heterogeneous group--largely gay or bisexual, younger, more likely to have had prior personal experience with AIDS. In addition, they perceived themselves to be functioning under a significantly higher degree of threat caused by their volunteer work. We performed a post hoc analysis controlling for sexual orientation and matching heterosexual volunteers for gender. Threats to health, social world, employment, and total threat significantly differentiated the two heterosexual groups of volunteers.
I M
IM
Shuff
A M
AM
Horne
N G
NG
Westberg
S P
SP
Mooney
C W
CW
Mitchell
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D013781:Texas; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce