Effect of Volunteering on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents

Abstract

Importance:The idea that individuals who help others incur health benefits themselves suggests a novel approach to improving health while simultaneously promoting greater civic orientation in our society. The present study is the first experimental trial, to our knowledge, of whether regular volunteering can reduce cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents.Objective: To test a novel intervention that assigned adolescents to volunteer with elementary school-aged children as a means of improving adolescents' cardiovascular risk profiles.Design: Randomized controlled trial, with measurements taken at baseline and 4 months later (postintervention).Setting: Urban public high school in western Canada.Participants: One hundred six 10th-grade high school students who were fluent in English and free of chronic illnesses.Intervention: Weekly volunteering with elementary school-aged children for 2 months vs wait-list control group.Main Outcome Measures: Cardiovascular risk markers of C-reactive protein level, interleukin 6 level, total cholesterol level, and body mass index. Results:No statistically significant group differences were found at baseline. Postintervention, adolescents in the intervention group showed significantly lower interleukin 6 levels (log 10 mean difference, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.004 to 0.251), cholesterol levels (log 10 mean difference, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.003 to 0.059), and body mass index (mean difference, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.71) compared with adolescents in the control group. Effects for C-reactive protein level were marginal (log 10 mean difference, 0.13; 95% CI, Ϫ0.011 to 0.275). Preliminary analyses within the intervention group suggest that those who increased the most in empathy and altruistic behaviors, and who decreased the most in negative mood, also showed the greatest decreases in cardiovascular risk over time. Conclusions and Relevance:Adolescents who volunteer to help others also benefit themselves, suggesting a novel way to improve health.

Harnessing the Therapeutic Power of Volunteering

“…• Improved affect 16 • Improvement in self-rated health 22,23,28,29,33,34,49,[51][52][53] • Greater longevity [10][11][12][13][14]24,33,35,36,[54][55][56] • Improved ability to carry out activities of daily living 22,24,33,52 • Better health coping mechanisms 4 • Reduced cardiovascular risk factors: lower cholesterol, interleukin 6, and body mass index 1 • Less hypertension 57 • Adoption of healthy lifestyles such as disease prevention, 39 increased physical activity, 58 and responsible amounts of drinking 59 • Lower incidence of frailty in later life 60 • Fewer hospitalizations 29 • Improved pain management 46 …”

Physiological Correlates of Volunteering

“…Volunteers have lower c-reactive protein levels compared to non-volunteers (Konrath 2013). This effect was confirmed in an experimental study that found that adolescents who were randomly assigned to a four-month volunteering program had marginally lower inflammatory biomarkers (c-reactive protein and interleukin 6) than waitlist control-group participants (Schreier 2012;Schreier et al 2013). They also had lower levels of cholesterol and a lower BMI.…”

“…Although there have been studies examining the effect of other prosocial behaviors on cortisol levels (e.g., Field et al 1998;Smith et al 2009), there is only one known study examining cortisol in relation to volunteering. This experimental study found that a four-month volunteering program had no effect on adolescents' cortisol levels compared to a waitlist control condition (Schreier et al 2013;Schreier 2012). More research is needed to examine the relationship between cortisol and volunteering.…”

Adverse Childhood Experiences among a Community of Resilient Centenarians and Seniors: Implications for a Chronic Disease Prevention Framework

“…[42][43][44] In general, it is well known that increased systemic inflammation is a risk factor for increase in chronic diseases and reduction in life span. [55][56][57][58] The practice of these health principles since early childhood may have afforded the centenarians and seniors enhanced ability to counter the effects of High family social strain associated with significant increase in IL-6 and fibrinogen and with overall inflammation burden (index variable created from all 5 markers) Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 36 2005 IL-6 and TNF-α Hostile marital interactions associated with stronger acute increase in proinflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α) Helping hand Schreier et al, 37 2013 IL-6 Volunteer time associated with significant decrease of IL-6, cholesterol, and BMI measurements Fuligni et al, 38 2007 IL-6 and CRP Greater sense of fulfillment in helping others associated with significantly lower IL-6 and CRP levels Hopeful intrinsic drive Puig-Perez et al, 39,40 2017, 2015 Cortisol Optimism related to significantly lower daily cortisol levels and faster cortisol recovery after stressful experiences Roy et al, 41 2010 IL-6 and CRP Optimism significantly linked with lower IL-6; pessimism significantly related to higher IL-6 and CRP levels Kinetic life Hopps et al, 42 2011 CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α Physical activity associated with significant decrease in CRP, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels Autenrieth et al, 43 2009 CRP and IL-6 Physical work and transportation (cycling/walking) to work associated with lower levels of CRP and IL-6 Reuben et al, 44 2003 CRP House/yard work associated with significantly lower risk of elevated CRP levels Nature engagement Li, 45 2010 Cortisol Forest outing trips associated with significant decrease in salivary cortisol levels Roe et al, 46 2013 Cortisol Higher green space in urban city spaces associated with significant decreased stress and cortisol levels Guillot et al, 47 2010 CRP Vitamin D (major source is sunlight exposure) associated with significant decrease in CRP levels Resting reset Okun et al, 48 2011 IL-6 and TNF-α Routine sleep practices associated with significantly lower plasma levels of proinflammatory markers Lin et al, 49 2012 IL-6 Leisure mental activities, including reading, attending lectures, and playing cards, were associated with significantly lower levels of IL-6 Simple foods Nettleton et al, 50 2006 CRP, IL-6 Whole grains, fruits, nuts, and green leafy vegetables inversely associated with significantly lower CRP, IL-6, and homocysteine levels Hodgson et al, …”