People who volunteer live longer, study suggests

People who volunteer live longer, study suggests

20 September 2011

People who volunteer for selfless reasons, such as helping others, live longer than those who don't lend a helping hand, a new study shows.

The findings showed that those who volunteered for altruistic reasons had lower mortality rates than people who did not volunteer, says the lead author, Sarah Konrath of the University of Michigan.

The new research, published by the American Psychological Association, also considered socioeconomic status, mental health, social support, marital status and health risk factors, including smoking, body mass index and alcohol use.

CEO of Save the Children New Zealand says that volunteers in New Zealand play a crucial role in helping Save the Children in its work:

“We are always looking for volunteers to fill a range of roles and to find new and fun ways to raise money for children in need – whether it’s working in one or our shops, mentoring young people, or fundraising and helping with events that raise awareness of our work,” Ms Gibbs says.

“Every single hour our volunteers donate makes a huge difference. We couldn't do what we do without the help of generous volunteers who give up their time to help Save the Children.”

ENDS

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