The contribution of volunteering to a healthier and happier Scotland Matthew Linning
Scope… Context – population change Contribution – volunteering, health & wellbeing Participation – Scotland & Glasgow Deprivation – the ‘Catch 22’ Conclusions
Demographic change Projected change in no. of Scottish Projected change in adult volunteers: 2017 - 2041 Scottish population 120,000 +102,000 Age Change in population 90,000 2017 - 2041 60,000 0 – 15 -15,000 30,000 16 – 64 -144,000 65+ +428,000 0 16 - 64 years 65 years + -30,000 - 41,000 -60,000 (- 5m hours p.a.) (+ 13m hours p.a.) Source: Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2018
Contribution of volunteering to health & wellbeing
Volunteer Scotland’s report: ‘Volunteering, health & wellbeing’ Initial perceptions • Volunteering is a ‘good thing’ • Good for beneficiaries and volunteers • Positive health and wellbeing impacts • More = better Is this true? • Are there benefits? Who benefits? Why do they benefit? • Are there losers as well as winners?
Health & wellbeing benefits Physical Mental Social isolation health & loneliness health Benefits include: Social connectedness: Reduced/alleviated: • Active & fit • Meeting people • Anxiety/stress • Healthy behaviours • Making friends • Depression • Functional independ • Getting out of the • PTSD ‘Helper’s ‘Helper’s -dence (older age) house • Learning high’ high’ • Coping with illness • Feeling you belong disabilities ? ? ? Improved life expectancy
Does age matter? Younger Older • 16 – 24 year olds have • 35 – 44 year olds have the • Volunteering helps to poorest mental health highest vol. rate = 33% ‘inoculate’ against ill- health • Loneliness is a significant • Lack of evidence on +ve problem health and wellbeing • Improving physical health impacts • Volunteering important for • Reducing social isolation building social skills, social • Evidence of role strain & loneliness capital & confidence • Possible negative H&W • Over 75s increasingly • And…combatting mental impacts from volunteering become the beneficiaries ill-health and loneliness of volunteering • More research required
‘Facilitators’ affecting H&W • Dose-response effect – frequency and intensity of volunteering • Motivations – altruism vs. self-interest • Recognition – thanks, appreciation and recognition • Volunteer role – type of role, responsibilities, social engagement
Possible adverse impacts • Role strain and stress (multiple roles) Life Satisfaction • Burnout (no. of hours volunteering) Age 60+ Age < 60 • Physical health (esp. for older volunteers) • Challenging /emotionally demanding roles Van Willigen, M. (2000) Volunteer Hours Possibility that H&W would improve if they stopped volunteering!
Volunteering participation - Evidence from Scotland & Glasgow -
Health and volunteer participation General Health - Mental Wellbeing Scotland - Scotland 35% 35% 31% 29% Scottish 30% 29% 29% 30% Average Volunteer participation rate Volunteer participation rate 25% 28% 25% 25% 23% 20% 20% 14% 15% 15% 0.48 0.52 0.21 0.05 10% 10% 0.16 0.17 0.93 Million Million Million Million Million Million Million 5% Adults Adults Adults Adults 5% Adults Adults Adults 0% 0% High Average Low Very Good Fair Bad / good Very Bad SWEMWBS n = 9,670 Source: Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2017
Volunteer participation in Greater Glasgow and Clyde Loneliness Social Isolation 25% 25% 21% 21% Volunteer participation rate 20% NHSGGC Volunteer participatin rate 20% 17% NHSGGC 18% Average, Average 18% 15% 18% 15% 9% 10% 10% 5% 5% 0% 0% Yes No All of the time Some of the Rarely / never / often time Do you ever feel isolated from family and How often have you felt lonely in the past two friends? weeks n =7,834 Sources: NHSGGC 2017/2018 Health & Wellbeing survey
Impact of deprivation
General Health – SIMD Q Volunteer participation and General Health - SIMD Q 40% SIMD Q Average 36% 34% 35% 31% 30% 30% 26% 25% % Adults (16+) 25% 23% 22% 20% 18% 15% 12% 10% 5% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Very Good / Good Fair / Bad / Very Bad Source: Scottish Household Survey (SHS) 2016
Deprivation & mental health Impact of deprivation on indicators of mental ill-health Indicators SIMD Quintile 1 SIMD Quintile 5 % difference (most deprived) (least deprived) % of adults aged 16+ GHQ-12: scoring 4 24% 14% 10% or more Depression – reporting 2 or more 20% 5% 15% symptoms Anxiety – reporting 2 17% 7% 10% or more symptoms Self-harm 10% 7% 3% Attempted suicide 12% 4% 8% Source : Scottish Health Survey - 2017 edition – Volume 1, Main Report
The ‘Catch-22’ Not disadvantaged Disadvantaged & included & excluded Health & High Low Wellbeing Volunteering High Low participation Many benefiting Few benefiting Impact on But…. But…. H & W Modest impact High impact
Further information Reports: • The Contribution of Volunteering to Scotland's Health and Wellbeing – Volunteer Scotland, Oct 2019 • Volunteering, Health & Wellbeing - Full Report: Volunteer Scotland, Dec 2018 • Scottish Household Survey 2016 - Volunteering cross-sectional analysis – Volunteer Scotland, Oct 2019 • Volunteering Trends in Scotland: Scottish Household Survey 2007 - 2017: Volunteer Scotland, Jan 2019 • Young People Volunteering in Scotland, 2016: Volunteer Scotland, Jan 2017 Contact: matthew.linning@volunteerscotland.org.uk @VolScot www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
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