Turns out, volunteering is also good for the volunteer — particularly after 40.
In a study recently published in British Medical Journal Open, researchers from the University of Southampton and the University of Birmingham found that for those of us over 40, there’s a significant correlation between our mental well-being and volunteering.
Using data collected under the British Household Survey, the researchers of this study tracked the benefits of volunteer work for those aged 15 and over, every two years from 1996 to 2008. In total the study analyzed over 60,000 participants and found that volunteering is more meaningful for our mental well-being the older we get.
The results of the study indicated that the impacts of volunteer work on younger people is not as important to their mental well-being, possibly because younger people look at community service as simply an obligatory task or duty.
For older adults, the benefits of volunteer work has greater importance. This may be because volunteering provides opportunities to expand your social network, gain more power and prestige, and feel a personal sense of accomplishment at a time in your life where you may experience lost earnings or are worried about becoming socially isolated.
So it would appear from this study that as we approach our 40s and beyond, instead of investing in that new convertible, great happiness may be found by an increased investment in our community centers, schools, and homeless shelters.
Editor’s Note: To find volunteer work or community service opportunities, reach out to an organization in your area that you admire, or visit Senior Corps and Experience Corps to search for service opportunities based on your interests and location.
