Is volunteering a public health intervention? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the health and survival of volunteers
OPEN BMC public health | 24 Aug 2013
CE Jenkinson, AP Dickens, K Jones, J Thompson-Coon, RS Taylor, M Rogers, CL Bambra, I Lang and SH Richards
Abstract
Volunteering has been advocated by the United Nations, and American and European governments as a way to engage people in their local communities and improve social capital, with the potential for public health benefits such as improving wellbeing and decreasing health inequalities. Furthermore, the US Corporation for National and Community Service Strategic Plan for 2011–2015 focused on increasing the impact of national service on community needs, supporting volunteers' wellbeing, and prioritising recruitment and engagement of underrepresented populations. The aims of this review were to examine the effect of formal volunteering on volunteers' physical and mental health and survival, and to explore the influence of volunteering type and intensity on health outcomes.
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- Epidemiology, Population health, Public health, Community, United Nations, Civil society, Health economics, Health care
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