Association of volunteering with mental well-being: a lifecourse analysis of a national population-based longitudinal study in the UK

This longitudinal study analyzed data from over 66,000 observations in the UK to explore how volunteering affects mental well-being across different life stages. Findings suggest that volunteering significantly enhances mental health, but benefits are age-dependent. Positive effects were most evident after age 40, continuing into old age. Frequent volunteers showed better mental health than non-volunteers, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The study highlights the role of volunteering in fostering purpose, social connections, and resilience, supporting cognitive and emotional health in later life.

If you are middle-aged or older, engage in regular volunteering to improve mental well-being. Begin with activities you find meaningful and manageable to enhance your sense of purpose and social connections. However, as causality isn’t confirmed and benefits are age-specific, ensure other mental health supports are in place.