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.
Shuff
I M
IM
Horne
A M
AM
Westberg
N G
NG
Mooney
S P
SP
Mitchell
C W
CW
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