An Exploration of Volunteering as a Path to Healthy Youth Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2022.1222Keywords:
volunteerism, positive youth development, developmental assets model, interpretative phenomenological analysis, Sri LankaAbstract
Volunteering is commonly observed from the standpoint of the service recipient, and the effect it has on a volunteer’s growth and development is often overlooked. Though quantitative studies, mixed method research, and surveys have explored the impact of volunteerism, very few look into its connection with healthy youth development. Furthermore, it has not received the academic attention it deserves in Sri Lanka, given that the country is globally ranked 1st in volunteer engagement. This qualitative study sought a psychosocial approach to explore and gain insight into the effects of volunteerism on the personal and social development of volunteers. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews conducted with 6 (young adult) participants (4 females, 2 males), with at least 2 years of experience volunteering at an educational or psychosocial setting. The data were analysed through interpretative phenomenological analysis, which took a hermeneutical stance to explore the lived experiences of volunteers. The analysis revealed 2 superordinate themes: The first, a “journey of growth,” emphasized the development through exposure to different realities and the discovering of career-related interests. The second, “acceptance, support, and validation,” illustrated the importance of sociocultural influences on volunteerism. The findings of the study provided insight into multiple implications including the role of supervisors and volunteer organizations in facilitating a healthy volunteering experience, the significance of sociocultural beliefs and philosophical drives in volunteerism, and the possibility of using volunteering as a standardized youth development program.
References
Adeniyi, J., & Olaseha, I. (1987). Toward a conflict resolution of multiple perceptions on post training utilisation of VHWs. Hygiene, 6, 24-28.
Allen, N., & Rushton, J. P. (1983). Personality characteristics of community health mental health volunteers: A review. Journal of Voluntary Action Research, 12, 36-49. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F089976408301200106
Benson, P. L. (2008). Sparks: How parents can help ignite the hidden strengths of teenagers. Jossey-Bass.
Bhattarai, S. (2017). Understanding volunteering within the ‘positive youth development’ approach: A case study of the international citizen service program of Nepal [Master’s thesis, University of Guelph]. Atrium, University of Guelph. https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10214/15950/Bhattarai_Smriti_201707_MRP.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Blum, R. W. (2003). Positive youth development: A strategy for improving adolescent health. In R. M. Lerner, F. Jacobs, & D. Wertlieb (Eds.), Handbook of applied developmental science: Promoting positive child, adolescent, and family development through research, policies, and programs (Vol. 2, pp. 237–252). Sage.
Bornstein, M. H., Davidson, L., Keyes, C. M., Moore, K., & the Center for Child Well-being. (2003). Well-being: Positive development across the life course. Lawrence Erlbaum.
Bowers, E. P., Li, Y., Kiely, M. K., Brittian, A., Lerner, J. V., & Lerner, R. M. (2010). The five Cs model of positive youth development: A longitudinal analysis of confirmatory factor structure and measurement invariance. Journal of Youth Adolescence, 39, 720-735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9530-9
Brown, S., Nesse, R. M., Vinokur, A. D., & Smith, D. M. (2003). Providing social support may be more beneficial than receiving it: Results from a prospective study of mortality. Psychological Science, 14, 320-327. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.14461
Clarke, N., Barnett, C., Cloke, P. and Malpass, A. (2007). Globalizing the consumer: Doing politics in an ethical register. Political Geography, 26 (3), 231-249. https://doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2006.10.009
Charity Aids Foundation. (2019). CAF World Giving Index. https://www.cafonline.org/docs/default-source/about-us-publications/caf_wgi_10th_edition_report_2712a_web_101019.pdf
Conway, R. J., Heary, C., & Hogan, M. J. (2015). An evaluation of the measurement properties of the five Cs model of positive youth development. Frontier Psychology, 6, 1941. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01941
Dass-Brailsford, P., Thomley, R., & de Mendoza, A. H. (2011). Paying it forward: The transformative aspects of volunteering after Hurricane Katrina. Traumatology, 17(1), 29-40. https://doi:10.1177/1534765610395619
Davies, M. B. (2007). Doing a successful research project: Using qualitative or quantitative methods, Hampshire. Palgrave Macmillan.
Dowling, E., Gestsdottir, S., Anderson, P., von Eye, A., Almerigi, J., & Lerner, R. M. (2004). Structural relations among spirituality, religiosity, and thriving in adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 8, 7-16. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.4135/9781412976657.n27
Duke, N. N., Skay, C. L., Pettingell, S. L., & Borowsky, I. W. (2009). From adolescent connections to social capital: Predictors of civic engagement in young adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44(2), 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.07.007
Eccles, J. S., & Gootman, J. (Eds.). (2002). Community Programs to Promote Youth Development. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.17226/10022
Ellison, F., & Kerr, H. (2014). The student volunteering landscape. National Union of Students.
Furlong, A. (2012). Youth studies: An introduction. Taylor & Francis.
Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: A modified Husserlian approach. Duquesne University Press.
Griep, Y., Hyde, M., Vantilborgh, T., Bidee, J., De Witte, H., & Pepermans, R. (2015). Voluntary work and the relationship with unemployment, health, and well-being: A two-year follow-up study contrasting a materialistic and psychosocial pathway perspective. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 20(2), 190-204. https://doi:10.1037/a0038342
Guttman, L. (1994). A basis for scaling quantitative data. American Sociological Review, 9, 139-150. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2086306
Hackl, F., Halla, M. and Pruckner, G. J. (2007). Volunteering and income–The fallacy of the good Samaritan? Kyklos, 60 (1), 77-104. http://doi:10.1111/j.1467-6435.2007.00360.x
Hallett, C., Klug, G., Lauber, C. and Priebe, S. (2012). Volunteering in the care of people with severe mental illness: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 12, 226-244. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-226
Hedin, D., & Conrad, D. (1980). Study proves hypotheses and more. Synergist, 9, 8-14. https://doi.org/10.2307/1179705
Holdsworth, C. and Quinn, J. (2010). Student volunteering in English higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 35 (1), 113-127. https://doi:10.1080/03075070903019856
Independent Sector. (2020). Value of volunteer time. https://independentsector.org/news-post/new-value-of-volunteer-time-2019/#:~:text=Independent%20Sector%20Releases%20New%20Value%20of%20Volunteer%20Time%20of%20%2427.20%20Per%20Hour,-July%2021%2C%202020
Jaju, V. (1986). Role of the village health worker-a glorified image. In K. S. Jayarao & A. J. Patel (Eds.), Under the lens. Medico Friend Circle, India.
Johnstone, D., Swingler, M., & Reid, K. (2017). The social experience of volunteering for young adult volunteers: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. QMiP Bulletin, 24, 42-50.
Kajornboon, A.B. (2005). Using interviews as research instruments. Language Institute, Chulalongkorn University.
Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006x.73.3.539
Kitchenham, A. (2008). The evolution of John Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. Journal of Transformative Education, 6(2), 104-123. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1541344608322678
King, P. E., Dowling, E. M., Mueller, R. A., White, K., Schultz, W., Osborn, P., Dickerson, E., Bobek, D. L., Lerner, R. M., Benson, P. L., & Scales, P. C. (2005). Thriving in adolescence: The voices of youth-serving practitioners, parents, and early and late adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 25(1), 94-112. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/0272431604272459
Krueger, M. A., Galovits, L., Wilder, Q., & Pick, M. (1999). A curriculum guide for working with youth: An interactive approach. University Outreach Press.
Kvale, S. (2007). Doing interviews. Sage Publications Ltd. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781849208963
Lerner, R. M. (2004). Liberty: Thriving and civic engagement among American youth. Sage.
Lerner, R. M., & Benson, P. I. (2003). Developmental assets and asset-building communities: Implications for research, policy, and practice. Kluwer Academic/Plenum.
Lerner, R. M., Dowling, E. M., & Chaudhuri, J. (2005). Methods of contextual assessment and assessing contextual methods: A developmental contextual perspective. Handbook of research methods in developmental science. 183-209.
Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., Bowers, E., & Geldhof, G. J. (2015). Positive youth development: A relational developmental systems model. Handbook of child psychology and developmental science theory and method,1(7) 607-651. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-319-43645-6_1
Littman-Ovadia, H., & Steger, M. (2010). Character strengths and well-being among volunteers and employees: Toward an integrative model. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(6), 419-430. https://doi:10.1080/17439760.2010.51676
MacNeela, P., & Gannon, N. (2014). Process and positive development: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of university student volunteering. Journal of Adolescent Research, 29(3), 407-436. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558413510968
McDowell, B. M. (2002). Volunteering—A community partnership. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 7, 121-122. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1111/j.1744-6155.2002.tb00161.x
Mezirow, J. (1978). Perspective transformation. Adult Education, 28, 100-110. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F074171367802800202
Morrow-Howell, N., Hinterlong, J., Rozario, P. A., & Tang, F. (2003). Effects of volunteering on the well-being of older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 58(3), S137-S145. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.3.S137
Musick, M., Herzog, A. R., & House, J. S. (1999). Volunteering and mortality among older adults: Findings from a national sample. Journal of Gerontology: Series B, 54B(3), S173-S180. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/54b.3.s173
O’Connor, A., Hoff, N., & Peterson, R. L. (2014). Developmental assets. Strategy brief. Student Engagement Project, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Department of Education. http://k12engagement.unl.edu/developmental-assets
Okun, M. A., & Schultz, A. (2003). Age and motives for volunteering: Testing hypotheses derived from socioemotional selectivity theory. Psychology and Aging, 18(2), 231-239. https://doi:10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.231
Oliver, K., Collin, P., Burns, J., & Nicholas, J. (2006). Building resilience in young people through meaningful participation. Advances in Mental Health, 5(1), 34-40. https://doi:10.5172/jamh.5.1.34
Oman, D., Thoresen, C. E., & McMahon, K. (1999). Volunteerism and mortality among the community-dwelling elderly. American Journal of Public Health, 4, 301-316. https://doi.org/10.1177/135910539900400301
Paine, A. E., McKay, S. and Moro, D. (2013). Does volunteering improve employability? Insights from the British household panel survey and beyond. Voluntary Sector Review, 4 (3), 355-376. https://doi:10.1332/204080513X13807974909244
Palinkas, L. (2014). Qualitative and mixed methods in mental health services and implementation research. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 43, 851-861. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2014.910791
Piliavin, J. A., Siegl, E. (2007). Health benefits of volunteering in the Wisconsin longitudinal study. Journal of Health Social Behaviour, 48, 450-464. https://doi.org/10.1177/002214650704800408
Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12, 66-77. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4
Poulin, M. J. (2014). Volunteering predicts health among those who value others: Two national studies. Health Psychology, 33 (2), 120. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0031620
President’s Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives. (1982). Volunteer: A valuable resource.
Resnick, B., Klinedinst, J., Dorsey, S., Holtzman, L., & Abuelhiga, L. (2013). Volunteer behavior and factors that influence volunteering among residents in continuing care retirement communities. Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 27 (1-2), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1080/02763893.2012.754820
Roberts, L. M., & Creary, S. J. (2011). Positive identity construction. Oxford Handbooks Online.
Roth, J. L., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2003). What exactly is a youth development program? Answers from research and practice. Applied Developmental Science, 7, 94-111.
Salamon, L. M., Sokolowski, S. W., & Haddock, M. A. (2011). Measuring the economic value of volunteer work globally: Concepts, estimates, and roadmap to the future. Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 82(3), 217-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8292.2011.00437.x
Scales, P. C., & Leffert, N. (2004). Developmental assets: A synthesis of the scientific research on adolescent development. Search Institute.
Schwartz, C., Meisenhelder, J. B., Ma, Y., & Reed. G. (2003). Altruistic social interest behaviours are associated with better mental health. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 778-785. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000079378.39062.d4
Seligman, M. E., (2011). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. Vintage.
Sheldon, K. M., & King, L. (2001). Why positive psychology is necessary. American Psychologist, 56(3), 216-217. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.216
Smith, J. A. (1996). Beyond the divide between cognition and discourse: Using interpretative phenomenological analysis in health psychology. Journal of Psychology and Health, 11, 261-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870449608400256
Smith, J. A. (2007). Hermeneutics, human sciences and health: Linking theory and practice, International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 2(1), 3-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v2i1.4940
Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2014). Interpretative phenomenological analysis as a useful methodology for research on the lived experience of pain. British Journal of Pain, 9(1), 41-42. https://doi:10.1177/2049463714541642
Steinberg, L., & Levine, A. (1990). You and your adolescent. Harper & Row.
Stevens, H., & Wilkerson, K. (2010). The developmental assets and ASCA’s national standards: A crosswalk review. Professional School Counselling, 13(4), 227-233. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2156759X1001300403
Taylor, J., & Turner, J. (2001). A longitudinal study of the role and significance of mattering to others for depressive symptoms. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 42, 310-325. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090217
United Nations Volunteers. (2019, November 27). Facilitating dialogue on volunteerism and inclusion in Sri Lanka. https://www.unv.org/Success-stories/facilitating-dialogue-volunteerism-and-inclusion-sri-lanka
United Nations Volunteers. (2021). Volunteerism in Sri Lanka. https://www.unvlk.org/volunteerism-in-sri-lanka/
Van Willigen, M. (2000). Differential benefits of volunteering across the life course. The Journals of Gerontology 55, 308-318. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/55.5.S308
Veludo-de-Oliveira, T., Pallister, J. G., and Foxall, G. R. (2013). Accounting for sustained volunteering by young people: An expanded TPB. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Non-profit Organizations, 24 (4), 1180-1198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-012-9317-6
Walt, G., Perera, M., & Heggenhougen, K. (1989). Are large-scale volunteer community health worker programmes feasible? The case of Sri Lanka. Social Science & Medicine, 29(5), 599-608. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(89)90179-2
Williamson, I., Wildbur, D., Bell, K., Tanner, J., & Matthews, H. (2017). Benefits to university students through volunteering in a health context: A new model. British Journal of Educational Studies, 66(3), 383-402. https://doi:10.1080/00071005.2017.1339865
Woodside, H., & Luis, F. (1997). Supported volunteering. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 21, 70-74. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0095339
Yates, M., & Youniss, J. (1996). Community service and political-moral identity in adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescents, 6, 271-284.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Revised 7/16/2018. Revision Description: Removed outdated link.
