Abstract
This study aims to examine the effect of the death of a family member or friend on psychological well-being, specifically the moderating effects of first-time volunteering and social network. With the sample of 354 volunteers from the Experience Corps® (EC) programs, Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) estimated the differences in psychological well-being. Among volunteers who had experienced the death of a family member or friend, new volunteers showed significant improvement in positive affect compared to experienced volunteers. EC members gained additional social contacts through volunteering. Formal volunteering has a salutatory effect on older adults' health after the loss of family members.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 834-848 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Journal of Gerontological Social Work |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 17 2018 |
Keywords
- negative affect
- positive affect
- role loss
- social contact
- social isolation
- Volunteering