School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Res Aging. 2020 Feb;42(2):51-61. doi: 10.1177/0164027519877476. Epub 2019 Oct 9.
Promoting engagement in formal volunteering represents a potential means of facilitating healthy aging. Given reluctance to participate in volunteering has been partially attributed to negative perceptions of various aspects of this activity, this study assessed whether trialing volunteering can improve perceptions among older people. Using a parallel-group design, Australians aged 60+ years ( = 445) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, one in which they were encouraged to trial volunteering and one in which they were asked to continue their usual activities. Perceptions and attitudes among those in the volunteering condition became significantly more favorable over 6 months relative to those in the control condition, with this change predicted by several aspects of the volunteering experience (e.g., acquisition of skills, increased social connectedness). Providing access to roles that cater to the learning and social needs of older adults appears to be important for improving attitudes toward engaging in volunteer work.
参与正式志愿服务代表了促进健康老龄化的一种潜在手段。鉴于人们对参与志愿服务的抵触部分归因于对这种活动各个方面的负面看法，本研究评估了试做志愿服务是否可以改善老年人的看法。本研究采用平行组设计，将澳大利亚 60 岁以上的老年人（n=445）随机分配到两个条件之一，一个条件鼓励他们试做志愿服务，另一个条件要求他们继续他们的日常活动。与对照组相比，在志愿服务条件下的人的看法和态度在 6 个月内变得明显更加有利，这种变化可以由志愿服务经验的几个方面来预测（例如，技能的获得，社会联系的增加）。为满足老年人的学习和社会需求提供角色机会似乎对改善参与志愿服务工作的态度很重要。
