Hsiao-Ting Chang1,2, Hsi-Chung Chen3, Nai-Wei Hsu4,5,6, Pesus Chou7. 1. Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Psychiatry & Center of Sleep Disorders, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. davidnwh@ms28.hinet.net. 5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan. davidnwh@ms28.hinet.net. 6. Public Health Bureau, Yilan County, No. 287, Sec. 2, Nuzhong Road, Yilan City, Yilan County, 26051, Taiwan. davidnwh@ms28.hinet.net. 7. Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore associations between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes among older people, including subjective physical and mental health, self-rated health, and self-rated happiness. METHODS: This questionnaire survey was conducted in Yilan, Taiwan. By convenient sampling, a total of 3692 older people living in the community were recruited from 2012 to 2016. Participants' engagement in community volunteer activities in the past month was recorded. Subjective physical and mental health were evaluated using the Short Form-12 version2 Health Survey physical and mental component summary scores. Self-rated health and happiness were each evaluated by a single question. Participants' demographic information and comorbidities were also recorded. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, marital status, body mass index, educational level, living status, comorbidities, smoking status, and status of alcohol drinking. RESULTSS: After adjusting for covariates, volunteering was significantly associated with better subjective physical health, self-rated health, and self-rated happiness scores (B = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.56, 3.26); B = 3.46, 95% CI (2.66, 4.66), and B = 4.62, 95% CI (3.18, 6.05), respectively). The strength of the relationships between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes differed. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteering has positive associations on subjective physical health, self-rated health, and happiness for older people living in the community in Yilan, Taiwan. Further follow-up studies are needed to examine the mechanisms of associations between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes, and clarify the differences in the strength of their associations.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore associations between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes among older people, including subjective physical and mental health, self-rated health, and self-rated happiness. METHODS: This questionnaire survey was conducted in Yilan, Taiwan. By convenient sampling, a total of 3692 older people living in the community were recruited from 2012 to 2016. Participants' engagement in community volunteer activities in the past month was recorded. Subjective physical and mental health were evaluated using the Short Form-12 version2 Health Survey physical and mental component summary scores. Self-rated health and happiness were each evaluated by a single question. Participants' demographic information and comorbidities were also recorded. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, marital status, body mass index, educational level, living status, comorbidities, smoking status, and status of alcohol drinking. RESULTSS: After adjusting for covariates, volunteering was significantly associated with better subjective physical health, self-rated health, and self-rated happiness scores (B = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.56, 3.26); B = 3.46, 95% CI (2.66, 4.66), and B = 4.62, 95% CI (3.18, 6.05), respectively). The strength of the relationships between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes differed. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteering has positive associations on subjective physical health, self-rated health, and happiness for older people living in the community in Yilan, Taiwan. Further follow-up studies are needed to examine the mechanisms of associations between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes, and clarify the differences in the strength of their associations.