title: Volunteering as a pathway to productive and social engagement among older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on outcomes of volunteering in later life largely focuses on the health of volunteers. This is in contrast to studies of youth, where attention is directed toward the effects of volunteering on subsequent productive and citizen behaviors. In this study, we examined the effects of volunteering on subsequent social and civic activity of older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted with volunteers from Experience Corps® (EC), a national program that brings older adults into schools to work with students. Data were derived from a baseline survey of older adults who were new EC volunteers in fall of 2006 and 2007. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 338 volunteers in fall 2010 to capture work, education, and community activities undertaken subsequent to joining EC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subsequent to joining EC, 16% of volunteers reported that they started a new job, 53% started another volunteer position, 40% started a community activity, and 39% took a class/started educational program. When asked if and how EC participation played a role in their new involvements, 71% said it increased confidence, 76% said it increased realization of the importance of organized activities/daily structure, and more than 40% said they made social connections that led to new involvements. Most reported they were more likely to be involved in advocacy efforts for public education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Volunteering among older adults is a means as well as an end--just as it is for young people. Programs can do more to attract and serve older adults by promoting volunteering as a pathway to other engagements, including work, social, and civic activities.
authors.affiliation: Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA morrow-howell@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morrow-Howell
authors.affiliation: Incheon National University, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yung Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCrary
authors.affiliation: Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058992:Social Participation; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: aging and health; community health; community health promotion; health behavior