The Cognitive and Physical Benefits of Volunteerism

Invoke your spirit of volunteerism and add fun ways to stay mentally sharp as you age
By
Sylvanus A. Ayeni, M.D.

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While the actions of volunteers by and large do benefit the recipient(s), volunteerism also fosters wellness and wellbeing of the volunteer. Most of us, at some stage in our lives during and beyond adolescence, would probably think about the idea of volunteering for a good cause. The spirit of volunteerism, I believe is innate in all human beings, though it may be dormant in some people for varying lengths of time throughout their lives. There has been a plethora of research into various aspects of volunteerism. These aspects include motivation and its driving forces, commitment, altruism, the opportunity for social interactions and possible health benefits.

In an April 2013 article in the Journal of Community Psychology, volume 41, issue 3, titled "Volunteer engagement and organizational commitment in nonprofit organizations: what makes volunteers remain within organizations and feel happy?", the authors conducted a study among volunteers from nonprofit organizations. The authors, Maria L. Vecina, Fernando Chacon, Daniela Marzana and Elena Marta conducted the study to find out whether "commitment to organizations and work engagement are distinguishable constructs among volunteers from 18 nonprofit organizations”.
Their conclusion is that "commitment, and not engagement, predicts intention to remain, and that engagement, and not commitment, predicts psychological well-being in the sample of 232 active volunteers." This study is referenced to show the degree of interest in different facets of volunteerism and the various conclusions drawn by scholars and nonscholars based on their experiences, studies, and analysis.
Suffice it to state that, regarding the conclusion of this study, I believe commitment is a pre-requisite for engagement and that both commitment and engagement do impact intention to remain within the organizations and also affect psychological well-being. That said, the following are 4 ways volunteerism fosters wellness and wellbeing both for the volunteer and the recipients.

1. Inner Satisfaction
Most volunteers express not only verbal and physical connection to the served, but also “emotional connection and empathy for the underlying necessity for the service. This can produce inner satisfaction because the volunteer is positively affecting lives beyond self and family. Depending on the arena in which the volunteer is operating, the positive effects on other lives could be educational, social or health-related. This adds a dimension of meaning and purpose to the life of the volunteer. 

2. Improvement in Health 
Quite often, volunteerism involves activities outdoors. Whether you are coaching a little league game, volunteering in a hospital or nursing home or helping an elderly person do his or her shopping, the mobility required is good for both physical and mental health. Your muscles are toned, you may feel less stiff and moving around helps your breathing and can improve blood circulation.

3. Prevention of Memory Decline
The old adage: "To rest is to rust" is true not only in the physical realm but also in the mental sphere. Reading, especially outside one's primary area of expertise or one's career helps to slow down and prevent memory decline. Writing does the same. Writing for presentations in a school, before a group, in the place of worshiper even as a hobby, like poems and shorts stories help to sharpen the mind. When these activities take place in the setting of volunteerism, especially if the activities are relatively new to the volunteer they help to expand the intellectual horizon of the volunteer and ultimately can prevent memory decline.
 
4. Societal Harmony
The forth way volunteerism fosters wellness and wellbeing is the benefit of harmony in society. “When selflessness and service to others are not only articulated but are evident in actions, the noble behavior sends a powerful message to people in the immediate vicinity and the community at large. When the spirit of "You are my brother's or sister's keeper", takes hold in any community, such a tradition bodes well for the community and the society at large. Chances are there would be less tension between the different members of the society and parents would be able to raise their children in a safe, enriching environment. So, the volunteerism sets a great example for the future generation regarding the "Essence of Life"; i.e. loving others as one's self. Finding real purpose in life beyond material possessions, riches, and fame, all of which are fleeting.

About the author:
Sylvanus Ayeni is a retired neurosurgeon in the USA.  He is President and Founder of Pan Africa Children Advocacy Watch, PACAW Inc. a non-profit organization involved in the education of children in Africa.  He has been involved in development issues in Sub-Saharan Africa in the education and healthcare sectors for many years.