title: Background characteristics, resources and volunteering among older adults (aged ≥70 years) in the community: A longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to describe (in)formal volunteering among older adults (aged ≥70 years) in the community, and the longitudinal relationships between background characteristics, resources (social, cognitive and physical functioning, social capital) and volunteering.
  
  
  METHODS
  At baseline, a total of 945 (out of 1440) independently living Dutch older adults (aged ≥70 years) completed the questionnaire (66% response). Two years later, these respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire again, of which 588 (62%) responded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 945 respondents (43% male; mean age 77.5 ± 5.8 years, range 70-101 years), 34.7% were married and 83.3% were born in the Netherlands. Social capital, social functioning and physical functioning were significantly higher among volunteering older adults. Being born in the Netherlands, higher educational level, social capital and social functioning were related to formal volunteering activities at baseline, and also predicted these activities 2 years later. Regarding informal volunteering activities, we found a significant association with age, being born in the Netherlands, marital status, educational level, social capital and social functioning at baseline. Examining their predictive nature, we found that younger age, being born in the Netherlands, social capital and physical functioning were associated with engagement in informal volunteering activities 2 years later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that older adults remain engaged in volunteering activities, and that background characteristics (e.g. ethnic background, education) and resources (social functioning, social capital) contribute to this engagement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cramm
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nieboer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003469:Culture; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D066107:Social Skills; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: community study; older people; social capital; social functioning; volunteering