Volunteering, religiosity, and quality of life in later life: evidence from Singapore

Abstract

Objectives

We examine the association of the frequency of formal and informal volunteering with quality of life (QoL) among older adults in Singapore. We also assess if private (private prayer) or public (religious service attendance) aspects of personal religiosity moderate this association. In examining the moderating role of religiosity, we adjudicate between two competing theoretical views—the value-congruence and resource-compensation perspectives.

Methods

Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated using cross-sectional data from a national survey of older Singaporeans, aged 60 and above, in 2016.

Results

The frequency of both informal and formal volunteering was associated with better QoL. While private prayer did not moderate this association, religious attendance did—the positive association was stronger among those attending religious services less frequently.

Conclusion

Volunteering is beneficial for well-being in later life, especially so for older adults with less religious service attendance. These observations dovetail with the resource-compensation perspective, underscoring that the benefits of volunteering are amplified for older adults who are less integrated into their religious congregations. Hence, targeting those with lower levels of religious attendance might be useful in maximizing the benefits experienced by older volunteers.

Keywords:

• Volunteering
• religious attendance
• prayer
• quality of life
• Singapore

Acknowledgement

Transitions in Health, Employment, Social Engagement and Inter-Generational Transfers in Singapore (THE SIGNS) Study, Wave 1, was supported by Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) under the agree­ment number MOH-NUS RL 2015-053. This research is also made possible by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its Academic Research Fund Tier 1 RS14/20. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of the Ministry of Education, Singapore.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors’ contributions

J. H. Jung planned the study, framed the research, and wrote the paper. S. Ang conducted the analyses and wrote the paper. R. Malhotra reviewed the paper and improved it.

Additional information

Funding

This study is supported by the Ministry of Health–Singapore and the Ministry of Education-Singaopre.