Factors influencing intention to continue volunteering: a study of older Chinese in Hong Kong

Authors:
CHEUNG Francis Yue-lok, TANG Catherine So-kum, YAN Elsie Chau-wai
Journal article citation:
Journal of Social Service Research, 32(4), 2006, pp.193-209.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA

In this study the authors extended the volunteer process model (Omoto & Snyder, 1995) to identify factors influencing the persistence of volunteer activities in older Chinese. The study individually interviewed 318 older Chinese volunteers about their demographic information, history of volunteer activities, subjective health status, perceived social support, motivation for volunteering, integration into volunteer group, satisfaction from volunteer work, and intention to continue volunteering in the coming year. Bivariate correlation analyses generally supported the volunteer process model. In particular, intention to continue volunteering was related to antecedent factors of high educational attainment, mental well-being, social support, and fulfilment of altruistic and self-oriented motives as well as volunteer experiences of integration into the volunteer group and satisfaction with volunteer work. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that fulfilment of self-oriented motives was the most salient factor in predicting the persistence of volunteer activities when shared variances of various factors were also considered. The research and practical implications were discussed to facilitate the retention of older Chinese volunteers. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street,  Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).

Subject terms:
motivation, older people, volunteers;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Hong Kong
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1540-7314
ISSN print:
0148-8376

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