December 7, 2020

International Volunteer Day is held each year on the 5^th of December in celebration of the efforts of volunteers and organizations, their values, and their work among communities, NGOs, UN agencies, government authorities, and the private sector.

Authored by Professor Catherine Tang (formerly from NUS Psychology) and fellow researchers, the article ‘Continued work employment and volunteerism and mental well-being of older adults: Singapore longitudinal ageing studies’ (Age and Ageing, 2009) studies the effects of volunteer activities and continued work involvement during retirement on the mental well-being of Singaporeans aged 55 and above.

The participants of the study were classified as ‘retired, non-volunteering’, ‘retired and volunteering’, and ‘still working’. Findings revealed that continued work employment and volunteerism during retirement was indeed associated with mental well-being among older adults. Compared to working seniors and volunteering retirees, non-volunteering retirees were more dependent for activities in their daily living, reported more depressive symptoms, and had lower cognitive and mental well-being scores. Crucially, the article also highlights that volunteering retirees had the highest life satisfaction scores and mental well-being as compared to working seniors and non-volunteering retirees.

Given that the study revealed differences in mental well-being between socially engaged and disengaged older adults, Prof Tang et al. conclude by urging Singapore’s national ageing strategy to explore the promotion of volunteerism and prolonged social participation beyond the traditional retirement age. As the article points out, continued work involvement and volunteerism in older age also enhances cognitive health by providing opportunities for mental training and new learning.

Read the article here.