Volunteering For Your Brain

Evidence That Volunteering and Prosocial Behaviour Enhances Brain Health

Research increasingly highlights the significant health benefits of volunteering for older adults. Numerous studies, including descriptive, cross-sectional, and prospective cohort research, consistently show that volunteering is strongly linked to improved subjective well-being (McMunn et al., 2009) and self-reported health (Lum & Lightfoot, 2005). It is also associated with lower mortality rates (Musick et al., 1999), reduced hypertension (Sneed & Cohen, 2013), decreased depression (Musick & Wilson, 2003), and a reduced risk of frailty (Jung et al., 2010). Notably, evidence suggests that the positive impact of volunteering on mental health is causal rather than merely correlational (Lum & Lightfoot, 2005).

While the precise mechanisms driving these health benefits remain unclear, several factors may play a role, including increased physical, cognitive, and social activity. One intriguing hypothesis proposes that the positive effects of formal volunteering may be linked to anti-inflammatory processes (Kim & Ferraro, 2013). Supporting this theory, a recent study involving adolescent volunteers over 8 weeks observed reductions in C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, total cholesterol, and body mass index (Schreier et al., 2013). Notably, adolescents who demonstrated the greatest increases in empathy and altruistic behaviour, alongside reduced negative mood, also experienced the most significant decreases in cardiovascular risk markers.

Volunteering’s health benefits also align with a reduction in modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as lower rates of depression, hypertension, cholesterol, and BMI. Additionally, it has been suggested that volunteering may directly reduce dementia risk by enhancing cognitive, social, and physical activity levels in participants (Anderson et al., 2014).

Do you need more reasons to give it a try?

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REFERENCES

Anderson, Nicole D.; Damianakis, Thecla; Kröger, Edeltraut; Wagner, Laura M.; Dawson, Deirdre R.; Binns, Malcolm A.; Bernstein, Syrelle; Caspi, Eilon; Cook, Suzanne L. The BRAVO Team The benefits associated with volunteering among seniors: A critical review and recommendations for future research. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 140(6), Nov 2014, 1505-1533

 

Jung Y, Gruenewald T, Seeman T, Sarkisian C. Productive activities and development of frailty in older adults. J Geront B Psych Sci Soc Sci. 2010; 65B(2):256-261.

 

Kim S, Ferraro K. Do Productive Activities Reduce Inflammation in Later Life? Multiple Roles, Frequency of Activities, and C-Reactive Protein. The Gerontologist. 2013; Vol. 54, No. 5, 830–839

 

Lum TY, Lightfoot E. The effects of volunteering on the physical and mental health of older people. Res Aging. 2005;27(1):31-55

 

McMunn A, Nazroo J, Wahrendorf M, Breeze E, Zaninotto P. Participation in socially-productive activities, reciprocity and wellbeing in later life: baseline results in England. Ageing Soc. 2009;29(5):765-782

 

Musick MA, Herzog AR, House JS. Volunteering and mortality among

older adults: findings from a national sample. J Geront B Psych Sci Soc Sci.

1999;54(3):S173-S180.

 

Musick MA, Wilson J. Volunteering and depression: the role of psychological and social resources in different age groups. Soc Sci Med. 2003;

56(2):259-269.

 

Schreier HM, Schonert-Reichl KA, Chen E, Effect of volunteering on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2013 Apr;167(4):327-32. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1100.

 

Sneed RS, Cohen S. A prospective study of volunteerism and hypertension

risk in older adults. Psychol Aging. 2013;28(2):578-586