Abstract
health - being a way of keeping mind and body active, engaged and thereby
healthier. It is commonly assumed that involvement in community activities
and organisations benefits both individuals and society.
Research shows associations between health and volunteering, but the use
of self-reporting health surveys amongst volunteers cannot show a causal
relationship. Recent study, largely from North America, is exploring the
connection between participation and health more definitively. Longitudinal
studies have suggested that mental and physical health can be maintained and
even improved through voluntary activity. There is increasing government
interest in promoting volunteering, recognising volunteers as a valuable
community resource. Around a third of adults (1.3 million) in Scotland
volunteered in 2007/08, giving over 142 million hours, with economic value of
£2.2 billion per annum. In the face of economic crisis, the perceived ‘burden’
of growing numbers of retirees and cuts to statutory services, voluntary
organisations appear to be a solution in supporting the public sector with value added for individual as well as community well-being. This might be especially
relevant to remote rural areas where public services are challenging and
expensive to deliver.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Health Studies: Economics, Management and Policy |
| Editors | Douglas Angus, Zoe Boutsioli |
| Place of Publication | Athens |
| Publisher | Atiner |
| Pages | 179-191 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9789609549257 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
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Keywords
- retired people
- voluntary activity
- health surveys
- health benefits
- rural areas
Cite this
}
Participation for health and wellbeing: factors associated with older people’s participation in remote and rural communities. / Steinerowski, Artur; Bradley, Sarah; Munoz, Sarah-Anne; Farmer, Jane; Fielding , Shona.
Health Studies: Economics, Management and Policy. ed. / Douglas Angus; Zoe Boutsioli. Athens : Atiner, 2011. p. 179-191.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed)
TY - CHAP
T1 - Participation for health and wellbeing: factors associated with older people’s participation in remote and rural communities
AU - Steinerowski, Artur
AU - Bradley, Sarah
AU - Munoz, Sarah-Anne
AU - Farmer, Jane
AU - Fielding , Shona
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Participation in volunteering is associated anecdotally with maintaining goodhealth - being a way of keeping mind and body active, engaged and therebyhealthier. It is commonly assumed that involvement in community activitiesand organisations benefits both individuals and society.Research shows associations between health and volunteering, but the useof self-reporting health surveys amongst volunteers cannot show a causalrelationship. Recent study, largely from North America, is exploring theconnection between participation and health more definitively. Longitudinalstudies have suggested that mental and physical health can be maintained andeven improved through voluntary activity. There is increasing governmentinterest in promoting volunteering, recognising volunteers as a valuablecommunity resource. Around a third of adults (1.3 million) in Scotlandvolunteered in 2007/08, giving over 142 million hours, with economic value of£2.2 billion per annum. In the face of economic crisis, the perceived ‘burden’of growing numbers of retirees and cuts to statutory services, voluntaryorganisations appear to be a solution in supporting the public sector with value added for individual as well as community well-being. This might be especiallyrelevant to remote rural areas where public services are challenging andexpensive to deliver.
AB - Participation in volunteering is associated anecdotally with maintaining goodhealth - being a way of keeping mind and body active, engaged and therebyhealthier. It is commonly assumed that involvement in community activitiesand organisations benefits both individuals and society.Research shows associations between health and volunteering, but the useof self-reporting health surveys amongst volunteers cannot show a causalrelationship. Recent study, largely from North America, is exploring theconnection between participation and health more definitively. Longitudinalstudies have suggested that mental and physical health can be maintained andeven improved through voluntary activity. There is increasing governmentinterest in promoting volunteering, recognising volunteers as a valuablecommunity resource. Around a third of adults (1.3 million) in Scotlandvolunteered in 2007/08, giving over 142 million hours, with economic value of£2.2 billion per annum. In the face of economic crisis, the perceived ‘burden’of growing numbers of retirees and cuts to statutory services, voluntaryorganisations appear to be a solution in supporting the public sector with value added for individual as well as community well-being. This might be especiallyrelevant to remote rural areas where public services are challenging andexpensive to deliver.
KW - retired people
KW - voluntary activity
KW - health surveys
KW - health benefits
KW - rural areas
M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)
SN - 9789609549257
SP - 179
EP - 191
BT - Health Studies: Economics, Management and Policy
A2 - Angus, Douglas
A2 - Boutsioli, Zoe
PB - Atiner
CY - Athens
ER -