Language
English (en)
Publication Date
2026
Summary
Volunteering among older adults has many potential health benefits; however, older adults with more wealth are also more likely to volunteer in the first place, raising the question of whether they are the ones reaping the most benefits. This study asked two questions: (1) Does formal volunteering improve self-reported health and reduce depressive symptoms in older adults? (2) Does the impact of volunteering on these outcomes differ between older adults in the lowest and highest wealth quintiles?
Document Type
Brief
Recommended Citation
Kim, S., & Halvorsen, C.J. (2026). Does the impact of volunteering on health differ by wealth? [Research in Brief: Volunteering]. Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at Washington University In St. Louis. https://doi.org/10.7936/7ry4-xy37
Comments
Summarizing the peer-reviewed paper: Kim, S., & Halvorsen, C. J. (2021). Volunteering as an equalizer? A quasi-experimental study using propensity score analysis. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 61(5), 628–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2021.05.004