A groundbreaking study conducted by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) has uncovered unique insights into the social benefits of volunteering among older adults. The research reveals that older adults who volunteer experience a heightened sense of support from their social networks, leading to a significant improvement in their quality of life. Notably, this increase in perceived social support is not accompanied by an expansion of actual support networks, suggesting that the benefits of volunteering may be more psychological and emotional than material.
The study analysed data from 2,887 Singaporeans aged 60 and above, gathered through the Transitions in Health, Employment, Social Engagement and Inter-Generational Transfers in Singapore Study (THE SIGNS Study). The Centre for Ageing Research and Education (CARE) at Duke-NUS spearheaded this nationally representative longitudinal survey. It revealed that those who regularly volunteer with clubs or organisations reported a greater sense of personal mastery—control over their lives—which correlates with better quality of life.
Researchers highlight that volunteering offers older adults alternative forms of perceived support that are particularly valuable in Asian cultures, where older adults traditionally rely heavily on family for support. In the context of an ageing population and shrinking family sizes, the study suggests that older adults must broaden their support networks beyond immediate family members to maintain a sustainable quality of life as they age.
Shannon Ang, NTU Assistant Professor of Sociology and the study’s lead, underscored the need for increased rates of volunteering among older adults in Singapore. He emphasised that volunteering enhances older adults’ quality of life through perceived social support and boosts their confidence in managing their lives and impacting others. Associate Professor Rahul Malhotra, Deputy Director of CARE at Duke-NUS, supervised the study and stressed the importance of a deeper understanding of how volunteering affects older adults’ social and psychological well-being. This understanding could serve as a foundation for the development of tailored volunteering programmes that maximise benefits for older adults, a crucial step in improving their quality of life.
The findings of the study strongly endorse the updated National Action Plan for Successful Ageing, which aims to empower older adults to manage their physical and mental well-being and continue contributing their knowledge and expertise. These findings also align with NTU’s strategic goals under NTU2025, which focus on addressing the needs and challenges of healthy living and ageing, and Duke-NUS’s commitment to advancing national healthcare discussions through its Signature Research Programmes. This alignment underscores the relevance and importance of the study’s findings in the context of national healthcare strategies.
The study’s methodology involved detailed interviews with participants, who were divided into three groups based on their volunteering frequency: non-volunteers, non-regular volunteers, and regular volunteers. These participants provided information on their volunteering activities and the type and frequency of support they received from their social networks. The survey also included questions that assessed participants’ personal mastery and quality of life through validated questionnaires previously used in Singapore by Duke-NUS researchers.
The analysis highlighted that better quality of life was consistently associated with more robust perceived social support among volunteers, irrespective of the frequency or formality of their volunteering activities. However, it did not lead to a broader social network providing actual support, which may reflect prevailing cultural norms in Singapore, where family primarily supports older adults. The researchers suggested that while volunteering could expand potential support sources, traditional norms about who should provide support might limit the actual support received.
The study concludes that volunteering can significantly enhance older adults’ mastery and perceived social support, leading to improved quality of life. However, for these benefits to be fully realised, volunteering must be regular and structured. This structured approach could help older adults feel more integrated and valued within their communities, ultimately reinforcing the dual benefit of volunteering—helping others and oneself.
More information: Shannon Ang et al, How Helping You Helps Me: A Longitudinal Analysis of Volunteering and Pathways to Quality of Life Among Older Adults in Singapore, The Journals of Gerontology Series B. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae013
Journal information: The Journals of Gerontology Series B Provided by Nanyang Technological University
