Role Commitment and Role Maintenance Strategies: A Symbolic interactionist Approach to Volunteering

Abstract

There are numerous reports on the rates of attrition among volunteers as a persistent challenge for organizations. In explaining volunteer attrition, researchers have predominantly: 1) provided an individualistic account of volunteering; 2) overlooked the interactional dimension of volunteer work and the crucial role of interpretation in its development; and 3) assumed commitment as a function of satisfaction with volunteering experience. Drawing on the theoretical insights of a symbolic interactionist approach, this article contends that volunteers’ role commitment hinges on their satisfaction with their interpretation of their interaction with clients, rather than the interaction itself. This perspective calls attention to the volunteer-client dyadic interaction, gives a prominent place to the social role and its definition, and draws attention to strategies used by volunteers to sustain challenging relationship with clients. RÉSUMÉIl existe de nombreux rapports sur les pourcentages de bénévoles perdus et le défi que ces pertes posent pour les organismes. Pour expliquer ces bénévoles perdus, les chercheurs ont surtout : 1) fourni des comptes rendus individualistes du bénévolat; 2) ignoré la dimension interactionnelle du bénévolat et le rôle crucial de l’interprétation dans le développement des interactions; et 3) pris pour acquis l’engagement comme indice de satisfaction des bénévoles. Se fondant sur la perspective théorique offerte par l’interactionnisme symbolique, cet article maintient que l’engagement des bénévoles dépend de la manière dont ils interprètent leurs interactions avec les clients plutôt que des interactions elles-mêmes. Cette perspective met l’accent sur l’interaction dyadique entre le bénévole et le client, donne une place de choix au rôle social et à sa définition, et attire l’attention sur les stratégies employées par les bénévoles pour gérer des rapports parfois difficiles avec leurs clients.

Importance of meaningful engagement: how and why older adults volunteer in uncertain times

“…Indeed, key characteristics of older adults with high levels of resilience are also common traits seen among older volunteers, such as optimism, active and adaptive and grit or determination (Bolton et al, 2016;MacLeod et al, 2016;Wu et al, 2013). In addition, the volunteer role identity, sense of mattering and helping others and opportunities to connect with others can act as a source of resilience and link between volunteering and subjective wellbeing when older adults experience losses or changes in meaningful roles or activities or other types of adversity (Behnia, 2021;Greenfield and Marks, 2004;Piliavin and Siegl, 2007;Stuart, 2020;van Ingen and Wilson, 2017;Wolman et al, 2022).…”

“…Older adults who feel that a program is disorganized or that the staff or managers do not adequately support them are more likely to leave that organization (Lu et al, 2021;Tang et al, 2010). Older adults may also stop if the experience does not fit their expectations, or they are no longer satisfied with or lose confidence in their volunteer role/identity (Behnia, 2021;Lu et al, 2021;Tang et al, 2010). Indeed, changes to the type and quality of interactions between a volunteer and recipient of services may impact an individual's volunteer identity and belief of whether they matter to those they are assisting (Behnia, 2021).…”

“…Older adults may also stop if the experience does not fit their expectations, or they are no longer satisfied with or lose confidence in their volunteer role/identity (Behnia, 2021;Lu et al, 2021;Tang et al, 2010). Indeed, changes to the type and quality of interactions between a volunteer and recipient of services may impact an individual's volunteer identity and belief of whether they matter to those they are assisting (Behnia, 2021). Finally, changes in life circumstances, such as taking on a new caregiving role or declining health and function, can cause older adults to reduce or stop volunteering (Butrica et al, 2009;Lu et al, 2021;Tang et al, 2010).…”

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“…Research (AVSO, 2007;Powell & Bratovi'c, 2007;Štuopytė, 2010;Wilson, 2000;Gedvilienė, Karasevičiūtė & Trečiokienė, 2010;Theodosopoulou & Papalois, 2011, Darley, 2018 has emphasized that learning takes place in the presence of intensive volunteering experience, in which some of the most important the components of learning are the longevity and continuity of the experience (Heublein & Zimmermann, 2016). The role of learning in volunteering is analyzed and described in Behnia's (2021) research, where social-help-providing volunteers learned to accept borders and opportunities.…”