HOW VOLUNTEERING BOOSTS COMMUNITY WELL-BEING: PATHWAYS TO A MORE CONNECTED AND SATISFIED SOCIETY
Keywords:
volunteering, well-being, social capital, human capital, social integrationAbstract
Volunteers significantly improve the well-being of individuals and communities by positively influencing subjective personal factors such as satisfaction with life, mental health, and self-confidence, as well as social factors such as cohesion and trust. This relationship is supported by several theoretical frameworks, including the theory of social capital, which suggests that volunteering improves community interconnection and reciprocal trust. The theory of human capital emphasizes the development of personal and professional skills of volunteers that improve personal growth and social productivity. However, obstacles such as socioeconomic inequality, cultural norms, limited time, and organizational obstacles have a significant impact on volunteers' participation. Evidence shows that volunteer roles are closely linked to motivations and capacities and positively linked to improved well-being. In particular, official volunteer activities have shown a strong correlation (R = 0,523) with the satisfaction of life in the countries of the European Union.Downloads
References
Aldrich, D. P. (2012). Building resilience: Social capital in post-disaster recovery. University of Chicago Press.
Becker, G. S. (1993). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Boyanov, K. (2018). Dual education – recommendations for Bulgaria in the context of the models in Germany and the USA. Strategies for Policy in Science and Education, 26(3), 246–267. (Original work published in Bulgarian)
Clary, E. G., Snyder, M., Ridge, R. D., Copeland, J., Stukas, A. A., Haugen, J., & Miene, P. (1998). Understanding and assessing the motivations of volunteers: A functional approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(6), 1516–1530.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Delhey, J., & Newton, K. (2005). Predicting cross-national levels of social trust: Global pattern or Nordic exceptionalism? European Sociological Review, 21(4), 311–327.
Durkheim, É. (1997). The division of labor in society (W. D. Halls, Trans.). Free Press. (Original work published 1893)
European Commission. (2025). European Solidarity Corps: Performance. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/performance-and-reporting/programme-performance-statements/european-solidarity-corps-performance_en
Eurostat. (2019). Sustainable development in the European Union – Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the EU. (Includes data on subjective well-being indicators)
Eurostat. (2020). Quality of life indicators – Governance and basic rights. Eurostat Statistics Explained. (Data on volunteering rates, 2015)
Eurostat. (2024). Quality of life indicators – Governance and basic rights (update). Eurostat Statistics Explained. (Data on formal volunteering, 2015 and 2022)
Forbes, K. F., & Zampelli, E. M. (2014). Volunteerism: The influences of social, religious, and human capital. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 43(2), 227–253.
Granovetter, M. S. (1973). The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360–1380.
Greenfield, E. A., & Marks, N. F. (2004). Formal volunteering as a protective factor for older adults’ psychological well-being. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 59(5), S258–S264.
Handy, F., & Mook, L. (2011). Volunteering and volunteers: Benefit‐cost analysis. In T. S. Jeavons & R. J. Sumariwalla (Eds.), The nonprofit sector in interesting times (pp. 177–198). Wiley.
Haski-Leventhal, D. (2009). Elderly volunteering and well-being: A cross-European comparison based on SHARE data. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 20(4), 388–404.
Helliwell, J. F., & Putnam, R. D. (2004). The social context of well-being. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 359(1449), 1435–1446.
Howard, M. M. (2003). The weakness of civil society in post-Communist Europe. Cambridge University Press.
Hustinx, L., & Lammertyn, F. (2003). Collective and reflexive styles of volunteering: A sociological modernization perspective. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 14(2), 167–187.
Jenkinson, C. E., Dickens, A. P., Jones, K., Thompson-Coon, J., Taylor, R. S., Rogers, M., … & Richards, S. H. (2013). Is volunteering a public health intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and survival of volunteers. BMC Public Health, 13(773), 1–10.
Krasteva, D. (2024). The human capital presence: Theoretical touches, functional manifestations and contemporary Bulgarian rescriptions. Strategies for Policy in Science and Education, 32(3), 323–336. (Original work published in Bulgarian)
Li, Y., & Ferraro, K. F. (2006). Volunteering in middle and later life: Is it biopsychosocially beneficial? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 30(5), 404–411.
Livingston, Val & Jackson-Nevels, Breshell & Reddy, Velur Vedvikash. (2022). Social, Cultural, and Economic Determinants of Well-Being. Encyclopedia. 2. 1183-1199. 10.3390/encyclopedia2030079.
Morawski, L., Okulicz-Kozaryn, A., & Strzelecka, M. (2022). Elderly volunteering in Europe: The relationship between volunteering and quality of life depends on volunteering rates. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 33(2), 256–268.
Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., Rozario, P., & Tang, F. (2003). Effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 58(3), S137–S145.
Musick, M. A., & Wilson, J. (2003). Volunteering and depression: The role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Social Science & Medicine, 56(2), 259–269.
Paxton, P. (1999). Is social capital declining in the United States? A multiple indicator assessment. American Journal of Sociology, 105(1), 88–127.
Pilkington, P. D., Windsor, T. D., & Crisp, D. A. (2018). Volunteering and subjective well-being in midlife and older adults: The role of supportive social networks. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 73(6), 1150–1160.
Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66–77.
Putnam, R. D. (1993). Making democracy work: Civic traditions in modern Italy. Princeton University Press.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.
Salamon, L. M., & Sokolowski, S. W. (2001). Volunteering in cross-national perspective: Evidence from 24 countries. Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies (Working Paper No. 40).
Snyder, M., & Omoto, A. M. (2008). Volunteerism: Social issues perspectives and social policy implications. Social Issues and Policy Review, 2(1), 1–36.
Stukas, A. A., Snyder, M., & Clary, E. G. (2005). The effects of “mandatory volunteerism” on intentions to volunteer. Psychological Science, 10(1), 59–64.
Thoits, P. A. (2012). Role-identity salience, purpose and meaning in life, and well-being among volunteers. Social Psychology Quarterly, 75(4), 360–384.
Thoits, P. A., & Hewitt, L. N. (2001). Volunteer work and well-being. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 42(2), 115–131.
Toncheva-Zlatkova, V. (2023). Communication with volunteers: Challenges and solutions for civil society organization. Journal of Management Sciences and Applications, 2(1), 151–161.
Uslaner, E. M., & Brown, M. (2005). Inequality, trust, and civic engagement. American Politics Research, 33(6), 868–894.
Voicu, B., & Voicu, M. (2009). Volunteers and volunteering in Central and Eastern Europe. Sociologia, 41(6), 539–563.
Wilkinson, R. G., & Pickett, K. (2010). The spirit level: Why equality is better for everyone. Penguin.
Wilson, J. (2000). Volunteering. Annual Review of Sociology, 26, 215–240.
Wilson, J., & Musick, M. (1997). Who cares? Toward an integrated theory of volunteer work. American Sociological Review, 62(5), 694–713
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
JOMSA maintains CC Attribution 4.0 license and authors retain the copyright.
