Version 1
: Received: 30 October 2024 / Approved: 30 October 2024 / Online: 30 October 2024 (11:37:38 CET)
How to cite:
Schulhoff, A.; Dukehart, A. Foster Grandparent Programs Impact on the Quality-of-Life of Older Adult Volunteers. Preprints2024, 2024102386. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2386.v1
Schulhoff, A.; Dukehart, A. Foster Grandparent Programs Impact on the Quality-of-Life of Older Adult Volunteers. Preprints 2024, 2024102386. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2386.v1
Schulhoff, A.; Dukehart, A. Foster Grandparent Programs Impact on the Quality-of-Life of Older Adult Volunteers. Preprints2024, 2024102386. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2386.v1
APA Style
Schulhoff, A., & Dukehart, A. (2024). Foster Grandparent Programs Impact on the Quality-of-Life of Older Adult Volunteers. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2386.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Schulhoff, A. and Alex Dukehart. 2024 "Foster Grandparent Programs Impact on the Quality-of-Life of Older Adult Volunteers" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.2386.v1
Abstract
Volunteering among older adults in the United States is rising, with rates up by 65% since 1974. With this tremendous growth in volunteering among seniors, examining how it affects them is essential. One such volunteering program we look at in this research is the Foster Grandparents Program (FGP) of the High Country, which allows older adults to volunteer at local schools to help in-need children. Previous research has shown how volunteering as an older adult positively impacts people's quality of life. This paper will explore the quality-of-life changes for the FGP older adult volunteers, explicitly comparing the quality-of-life changes with demographics and program satisfaction. This study looked at 93 participants of the FGP and their survey responses. We used cross-tabulation and correlation to look for relationships between demographics, satisfaction with volunteer experience, and overall changes in the quality-of-life of volunteers. Age, gender, and years of service were not good predictors of quality-of-life changes. On the other hand, overall satisfaction with the program proved to be the best predictor for change in quality of life. When satisfaction with positive program experiences is high, volunteers are more likely to have less symptoms of depression, state they have a greater sense of belonging to a community and were able to build a positive identity for themselves, all of which impacted their overall quality-of-life.
Keywords
quality of life (QoL); community participation; volunteering; older adults, United States; Foster Grandparent Program
Subject
Social Sciences, Sociology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
