Managing Student Volunteers for Mega Events: Motivation and Psychological Contract as Predictors of Sustained Volunteerism

Abstract

Tourism destinations often leverage special events to promote tourism. However, special event organizers are confronted with the challenge of effectively managing volunteers to achieve high satisfaction and sustained volunteerism (SV). This study analyzes the relationships between volunteer motives, psychological contract (PC), satisfaction, and behavioral intention. It accomplishes this aim by examining student volunteers' satisfaction with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and testing a conceptual model of SV using motivation and PC as predictors. Based on a sample of 579 college student volunteers in Shanghai, this study simultaneously investigates the antecedents of student satisfaction with the World Expo and their behavioral intention to volunteer for other special events. Practical implications and future research directions of event volunteerism management are fully discussed.

Key words:

• volunteer motivations
• psychological contract
• volunteer satisfaction
• sustained volunteerism
• 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the research support by the Oriental Scholar Program of Shanghai Education Commission and Shanghai Normal University.