Race and Place: Exploring the Intersection of Inequity and Volunteerism Among Older Black and White Adults.
Although the historical impact of racial segregation and ongoing health and economic inequities between older Black and White adults is well documented, little is known about the relationships among race, individual- and neighborhood-resources, and formal volunteering in later life. This study explores this intersection. Individual-level data from 268 respondents aged 55+ were collected in the St. Louis metropolitan area through paper-based mail surveys. Objective neighborhood data were obtained at the zip code level from secondary sources and matched with respondents. Using exploratory factor analysis, we constructed a 14-item environmental scale with 3 neighborhood dimensions (economic, social, and built environment). Older Black adults had lower levels of education; had fewer financial assets; lived in neighborhoods with less economic resources and lower built environment scores; and fewer formally volunteered when compared to older White adults. Individual resources (financial assets, health) and neighborhood resources (social and built environment) were positively associated with formal volunteering among older Black adults. Only individual resources (age, marital status, financial assets, health) were associated with formal volunteering among older White adults. A coherent set of policies that bolsters individual and environmental capacities may increase the rate of volunteerism among older black adults.
a Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
Ernest
E
Gonzales
b University of Missouri-St. Louis , School of Social Work , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
Huei-Wern
HW
Shen
c Washington University in St. Louis , School of Social Work , St. Louis , Missouri , USA.
Yi
Y
Wang
a Center for Innovation in Social Work and Health , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.
Linda Sprague
LS
Martinez
d Regis College , Weston , Massachusetts , USA.
Julie
J
Norstrand
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D011203:Poverty; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D044469:Racial Groups; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Environmental capacity; formal volunteering; inclusion; inequity; neighborhoods; productive aging; race