Volunteering, loneliness and perceived social isolation: evidence from a representative sample of middle-aged and older adults in Germany

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between voluntary work, loneliness and perceived social isolation amongst middle aged and older adults in Germany.

METHODS: Data were taken from Wave 5 (Year 2014; n = 7,164 in the analytical sample) of the German Ageing Survey - a nationally representative survey of middle-age and older adults. Voluntary work was quantified using a qualitative scale. The De Jong Gierveld tool was used to assess loneliness. The Bude and Lantermann tool was used to assess perceived social isolation. It was adjusted for several covariates in regression analysis.

RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analyses, that adjusted for several covariates, revealed a negative association between voluntary work and loneliness as well as perceived social isolation. Similar associations between volunteering and social isolation in people 40-64 years old and older, as well as volunteering and loneliness in those 40-64 years old, were discovered in age-stratified regression analyses. Volunteering, however, was not significantly linked to loneliness in people 65 and older.

CONCLUSION: Study findings showed a negative association between voluntary work and loneliness as well as perceived social isolation. Since protecting against loneliness and perceived social isolation can contribute to successful ageing, this is of great importance.