THE RELATION BETWEEN MOTIVES FOR ORGANIZATIONAL VOLUNTEERING AND FREQUENCY OF VOLUNTEERING BY ELDERS

The influence of motives for volunteering on frequency of volunteering by elders was examined. A secondary analysis was conducted on data fr om the Marriott Seniors Volunteerism Study. It was hypothesized that t he number of major motives for volunteering would be positively relate d to frequency of volunteering. Contrary to the hypothesis, a stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that specific motives for volun teering-to feel useful or productive and to fulfill a moral obligation -were significant predictors of frequency of volunteering. Each increm ent on the motives for volunteering scale (from 0 to 2) multiplied the odds of volunteering 2 or more times a month by 2.11 for feeling usef ul or productive and by 1.38 for fulfilling a moral obligation. It was suggested that some older adults use frequent volunteering as a strat egy to sustain their self-esteem.