Predictors of engaging in voluntary work during the COVID-19 pandemic: analyses of data from 31,890 adults in the UK

Abstract

Aims: As the COVID-19 pandemic has grown internationally, there has been an increased need for volunteers. This study aimed to identify the predictors of volunteering including demographic backgrounds, socio-economic characteristics, personality, and psychosocial factors. Methods: Data were analysed from 31,890 adults in the UK COVID-19 Social Study run by the University College London – a longitudinal study focusing on the psychological and social experiences of adults living in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tetrachoric factor analysis was applied to identify latent categories of voluntary work. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identity predictors for volunteering and change in volunteering behaviours since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Three types of volunteering during the pandemic were identified as follows: formal volunteering, social action volunteering, and neighbourhood volunteering. Regression analysis showed that the pattern of voluntary work was structured by demographic backgrounds, socio-economic factors, personality, and psychosocial factors. Conclusion: The predictors of volunteering during the pandemic may be slightly different from other non-emergency period.

Helping Behavior of Older Adults during the Early COVID-19 Lockdown in Belgium

“…Understanding who provides helping behavior as well as their motives during the current pandemic can support future efforts to develop strategies to encourage people’s helping behavior, as well as improve local health systems and plan for epidemics ( Mak & Fancourt, 2021 ). Psychologists have primarily used motivational theories to explain why people decide to help, and specifically why they decide to take up volunteering ( Wilson, 2012 ).…”

The Psychology of Coronavirus Behavioral Health Mindset, Vaccination Receptivity, Customer Orientation and Community Public Service

“…Those with high levels of social support and a large social network displayed a higher rate of volunteerism overall, while those diagnosed with mental health conditions had 32% higher odds of engaging in formal volunteering. LouVax volunteers engaged in what Mak and Fancourt’s (2021) study would call formal volunteering, and the two studies converged in finding that higher education was associated with such volunteering. The LouVax volunteers also were like Mak and Fancourt’s social action volunteers in being female and employed and with their neighborhood volunteers in being in the upper age categories.…”

“…These findings came too late to influence the methodology used in the present research, but the findings can be compared with ours. Mak and Fancourt (2021) analyzed data from 31,890 adults in the United Kingdom to understand those who volunteered to provide services to individuals impacted by the pandemic. Their study commenced on March 21, 2020, the same date as ours, and involved online weekly data collection from a heterogeneous sample.…”

Who helps and why? A longitudinal exploration of volunteer role identity, between‐group closeness, and community identification as predictors of coordinated helping during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Relevant control variables were also measured: participants’ age , gender (0 = female, 1 = male), the length of time since they started volunteering with their voluntary group (measured on a 1–41 scale which ranged from less than one month ‐ 30 years or more ), and the number of times they volunteer with their voluntary group in an average year (i.e., frequency of volunteering). These variables were selected for inclusion because of the potential impact they might have on helping during the COVID‐19 pandemic (e.g., Mak & Fancourt, 2020 ).…”