title: Association of strength of community service to personal wellbeing.
abstract: To assess the impact of community service on personal wellbeing in a mid-west church-based population. A prospective survey evaluating: self-reported community service, the perceived benefit of the service and its association to personal wellbeing. 309 participants were included of whom 92 % were employed full or part time, homemakers or students. Those who served in some capacity had better scores on five Wellbeing questions including: contentment, peace, joy, purpose and community acceptance (P < 0.02), but not better self-perceived mental or physical health (P > 0.05). People who served had a better combined Wellbeing score than those who could not serve (P = 0.03). A higher number of hours served/week was associated with better Global Wellbeing (P = 0.02). The greatest perceived benefit of service was related to enhancing wellbeing of others and the service organization itself (P < 0.0001). Church going adults, who are serving in some capacity in their church or community, may demonstrate heightened personal wellbeing compared to those who are not assisting others.
authors.affiliation: Grace Community Church, Bartlesville, OK, USA.
authors.forename: W Rodman
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: MacIlvaine
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Jeanette A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019058:Community Networks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult