The Benefits of Volunteering: How Helping Others Helps You Too

Sometimes the best way to help yourself is to help someone else.

Volunteering is a generous way to support and strengthen your community, but its impact extends beyond the causes you serve. People who give their time often experience improved well‑being, along with a deeper sense of purpose and connection.

The Many Advantages of Volunteer Work

Beyond the satisfaction of giving back, research has shown that volunteering can boost your mental and physical health, reducing stress, improving mood and even helping you live longer.

While many studies have focused on older adults, the positive benefits of volunteering extend across nearly every age group and life stage.

Mental Health Benefits of Volunteering

Compared to non-volunteers, people who give of their time tend to be less depressed or anxious, have more self-esteem, are more satisfied with their lives, express greater happiness and report an enhanced sense of meaning in life, according to Jeffrey Burr, a retired professor of gerontology at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

Volunteering prompts the brain to release neurotransmitters like dopamine, which help you feel more positive and motivated, according to Mayo Clinic Health System. This natural boost can elevate your mood while creating a sense of calm and fulfillment. People who volunteer also feel more involved, less lonely and experience an improved quality of life, reported the National Library of Medicine.

Older people may also see boosts in mental abilities. Senior volunteers experience less cognitive decline and less memory loss, which are huge advantages as we age, revealed in a study called the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial as reported by The Journals of Gerontology.

Your Guide to Buying a New Car

Tips and tricks to get you through every step of buying a new car, whatever “new” means to you.

Read now

Physical Benefits of Volunteering

Besides boosting your spirits and cognitive abilities, volunteering also has measurable benefits to your physical health and well-being, including improving cardiovascular functions, according to the American Heart Association, as well as enhancing mobility and general fitness.

A 2015 study published in The Gerontologist showed that middle-aged volunteers had better levels of HDL cholesterol in their blood, had less abdominal fat and were less likely to have high blood glucose than people who did not volunteer. Older volunteers were also less likely to have high blood pressure. Similar benefits have been observed among younger people. One study of Canadian high school students found that just two months of volunteering helped to reduce their cardiac risk factors.

People who volunteer tend to be more physically active, have better physical function, stable balance and may even live longer, according to research published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. After examining connections between volunteering and health in almost 13,000 U.S. adults more than 50 years old, the study revealed that, over a four-year follow-up period, people who volunteered at least 100 hours per year had a lower chance of dying than non-volunteers.

Finding and Sustaining a Sense of Purpose

“For older adults, volunteering can fill many important roles,” said Eric Kim, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a co-writer of the journal report. “When older adults volunteer, it can simultaneously provide social connection, a sense of being needed, of mattering, of significance, structure and physical activity. I do think purpose is a key piece of the puzzle.”

Certain influences and conditions also make it more likely for people to volunteer — and keep it up. Strong social ties, better baseline physical health and religious participation are among the strongest predictors. Equally important, Kim said, are organizations that create a sense of belonging and reduce barriers to participation. Flexible schedules, accessible transportation and opportunities that align with personal values can all make volunteering not just possible, but sustainable.

How to Find Volunteer Opportunities Near You

If you are interested in volunteering, first consider your interests, schedule, time commitment and available transportation. Sites such as Volunteer.gov and Idealist can help you find an engaging volunteer position. Also check out your local schools, library and community centers and see if your employer has volunteer opportunities.

AAA promotes volunteerism among its employees and members, often sponsoring community projects, including our Fuel Hope, Fight Hunger campaign.

“Volunteering feels good and it gives people a sense of purpose, boosts mood and helps lower stress,” said Karen Diehl, senior community and employee experience specialist for AAA Northeast. “It brings co-workers together around a shared goal, strengthening relationships and creating a real sense of purpose. On top of that, volunteering encourages people to try new things, meet new faces and build skills they might not use in their regular roles.”

To sign up for member volunteer opportunities with AAA, check out AAA Cares.

What are your favorite ways to volunteer in your community? Share in the comments below.

Ellen R. Delisio

Ellen is a content producer for AAA Northeast, covering automotive, finance, public affairs and electric vehicle news. She is a former newspaper reporter with experience writing for print and online publications about everything from higher education to sustainability. She recently returned to her native Long Island after living in Connecticut for 20-plus years, and has never met a beach she didn’t like.