A STUDY OF CURRENT, FORMER, AND NEW ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS - A COMPARISONOF DEVELOPMENTAL AND TRAIT MODELS OF PERSONALITY

This study examined relationships among personality traits, ego develo pment, and volunteering among retired seniors who were current, former , and new volunteers. Volunteer history, but not extensiveness of volu nteer experience, was associated with higher ego development. Current volunteers had higher levels of ego development than former and new vo lunteers, and former volunteers had higher levels than new volunteers. Openness to experience and ego development were positively associated . Results of multiple-regression analyses indicated that openness and volunteering history and extensiveness positively predicted ego develo pment. This study supported the hypothesis that ego development is rel ated to volunteering and suggests that participation in volunteer work promotes ego development.