The power of connections: Psychological sense of community as a predictor of volunteerism

ABSTRACT

Two studies explored psychological antecedents of volunteerism, including several dispositional constructs and psychological sense of community (PSOC). In Study 1, 140 retirees completed measures of empathy, self-esteem, generativity, and PSOC, as well as involvement in volunteer organizations and weekly volunteering hours at two points in time. PSOC predicted concurrent and future volunteerism even after controlling for the other predictors. In Study 2 (n = 427), PSOC and measures of environmental concern and connectedness were used to predict current environmental volunteerism and activism. PSOC was the only measure reliably and uniquely related to these behaviors. Across two different domains and operationalizations of PSOC, the findings support the validity and utility of PSOC for understanding general and issue-specific volunteerism. More generally, they highlight social relationships and psychological connections as potential pathways to volunteerism and social action.

KEYWORDS:

• Activism
• environmentalism
• psychological sense of community
• volunteer process
• volunteerism

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Allen M. Omoto

Allen M. Omoto, PhD, is a Social Psychologist whose research interests focus on interpersonal processes and, specifically, on the social and psychological aspects of prosocial behavior and broader civic and political engagement. He also conducts research on issues related to the environment, HIV disease, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual concerns.

Cody D. Packard

Cody D. Packard, MA, is a Social Psychology graduate student, interested in how people’s morals influence their behavior, and how their behavior influences their morals. His current research also focuses on the impact that negative attitudes about nature can have on people’s pro-environmental behavior.