Dataset Information

Informal Helping and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older U.S. Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Growing evidence suggests that informal helping (unpaid volunteering not coordinated by an organization or institution) is associated with improved health and well-being outcomes. However, studies have not investigated whether changes in informal helping are associated with subsequent health and well-being.

Methods

This study evaluated if changes in informal helping (between t₀;2006/2008 and t₁;2010/2012) were associated with 35 indicators of physical, behavioral, and psychosocial health and well-being (at t₂;2014/2016) using data from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement study - a national cohort of US adults aged > 50.

Results

Over the four-year follow-up period, informal helping ≥ 100 (versus 0) hours/year was associated with a 32% lower mortality risk (95% CI [0.54, 0.86]), and improved physical health (e.g., 20% reduced risk of stroke (95% CI [0.65, 0.98])), health behaviors (e.g., 11% increased likelihood of frequent physical activity (95% CI [1.04, 1.20])), and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., higher purpose in life (β = 0.15, 95% CI [0.07, 0.22])). However, there was little evidence of associations with various other outcomes. In secondary analyses, this study adjusted for formal volunteering and a variety of social factors (e.g., social network factors, receiving social support, and social participation) and results were largely unchanged.

Conclusions

Encouraging informal helping may improve various aspects of individuals' health and well-being and also promote societal well-being.

SUBMITTER: Nakamura JS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10215039 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Informal Helping and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older U.S. Adults.

Nakamura Julia S JS Lee Matthew T MT VanderWeele Tyler J TJ Kim Eric S ES

International journal of behavioral medicine 20230526 4

<h4>Background</h4>Growing evidence suggests that informal helping (unpaid volunteering not coordinated by an organization or institution) is associated with improved health and well-being outcomes. However, studies have not investigated whether changes in informal helping are associated with subsequent health and well-being.<h4>Methods</h4>This study evaluated if changes in informal helping (between t<sub>0</sub>;2006/2008 and t<sub>1</sub>;2010/2012) were associated with 35 indicators of physi ...[more]

PMID: 37233899

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Project description:IntroductionGrowing evidence documents strong associations between volunteering and favorable health and well-being outcomes. However, epidemiological studies have not evaluated whether changes in volunteering are associated with subsequent health and well-being outcomes.MethodsData were from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement Study-a large, diverse, prospective, and nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults aged >50 years. Using multiple logistic, linear, and generalized linear regression models, this study evaluated if changes in volunteering (between t0, 2006/2008 and t1, 2010/2012) were associated with 34 indicators of physical health, health behaviors, and psychosocial well-being (in t2, 2014/2016). Models adjusted for sociodemographics, physical health, health behaviors, psychosocial factors, and personality, as well as volunteering and all outcomes in the prebaseline wave (t0, 2006/2008). Results accounted for multiple testing and data were analyzed in 2019.ResultsDuring the 4-year follow-up period, participants who volunteered ≥100 hours/year (versus 0 hours/year) had a reduced risk of mortality and physical functioning limitations, higher physical activity, and better psychosocial outcomes (higher: positive affect, optimism, and purpose in life; lower: depressive symptoms, hopelessness, loneliness, and infrequent contact with friends). Volunteering was not associated with other physical health outcomes (diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, overweight/obesity, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain), health behaviors (binge drinking, smoking, and sleep problems), or psychosocial outcomes (life satisfaction, mastery, health/financial mastery, depression, negative affect, perceived constraints, and contact with other family/children).ConclusionsWith further research, volunteering is an activity that physicians might suggest to their willing and able patients as a way of simultaneously enhancing health and society.

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Dataset Information

Informal Helping and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older U.S. Adults.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Informal Helping and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older U.S. Adults.

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