How Do Compulsory Volunteer Experiences at Sporting Events Help Improve Sport Participation and Life Satisfaction?

Abstract

Education programs in many countries include voluntary experiences that have been made compulsory requirements. However, the positive effect of this has not yet been identified in the field of leisure. This study, therefore, investigated how compulsory volunteer experiences affect volunteers’ future behavioral intention and well-being. Specifically, we examined the effect of compulsory volunteers’ nostalgia on exercise motivation, extraversion, sport participation intention, and life satisfaction based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. A total of 605 responses were collected from university students who had compulsory volunteer experiences at sport events. Results showed that nostalgia positively affected exercise motivation and extraversion; exercise motivation had a positive effect on extraversion, life satisfaction, and sport participation intention. In addition, extraversion positively affected life satisfaction and sport participation intention. The findings of this study contribute to identifying the role of compulsory volunteer experience and understanding its impact on individuals’ future behavior and well-being.

Keywords:

• Exercise motivation
• extraversion
• nostalgia
• sport participation
• sport volunteer
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.