Volunteering improves health, shows UGent study

Volunteers are generally in better health than those who never volunteer, showing similar health norms as people five years younger, according to a study led by PhD researcher Jens Detollenaere of Ghent University (UGent).

Detollenaere, whose findings have just been published in the journal Plos One, analysed data from the European Social Survey (ESS), conducted in 2012 and 2013. The ESS measured the beliefs, preferences and behaviour of about 40,000 citizens from 29 European countries.

People who volunteer turned out to be in substantially better health than non-volunteers. “The health benefits are comparable to those of being five years younger or being a native resident rather than a migrant,” said Detollenaere in a statement.

Income levels had something to do with the findings, according to UGent socioeconomic professor Stijn Baert. “Volunteers usually have a higher income, which is associated with better health,” he said. “This finding is in line with our previous research showing that those who include volunteering activities on their CV more often get invited for a job interview.”

They also pointed to three additional explanations. Earlier studies have indicated that volunteering has a positive effect on psychological characteristics, like self-esteem and self-efficacy, as well as on social advantages such as integration and access to support and information.

Volunteering also increases physical and cognitive activities, which protect against functional decline and dementia. Neuroscience research has related volunteering to the release of caregiving-related hormones, which have the capacity to regulate stress and inflammation.

Photo courtesy Bouworde