Environmental volunteering and health outcomes over a 20-year period.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested the hypothesis that volunteering in environmental organizations in midlife is associated with greater physical activity and improved mental and physical health over a 20-year period.


METHODS
The study used data from two waves (1974 and 1994) of the Alameda County Study, a longitudinal study of health and mortality that has followed a cohort of 6,928 adults since 1965. Using logistic and multiple regression models, we examined the prospective association between environmental and other volunteerism and three outcomes (physical activity, self-reported health, and depression), with 1974 volunteerism predicting 1994 outcomes, controlling for a number of relevant covariates.


RESULTS
Midlife environmental volunteering was significantly associated with physical activity, self-reported health, and depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
This population-based study offers the first epidemiological evidence for a significant positive relationship between environmental volunteering and health and well-being outcomes. Further research, including intervention studies, is needed to confirm and shed additional light on these initial findings.
Pillemer
Karl
K
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. kap6@cornell.edu
Fuller-Rowell
Thomas E
TE
Reid
M C
MC
Wells
Nancy M
NM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*