Running head: THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

The Academic, Social, and Economic Impacts of Volunteerism on the Youth of the 21st-Century
Julia C. Graziani
Global Studies and World Languages Academy
Tallwood High School
December 2015

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

Table of Contents
Abstract..............................................................................................................................2
Introduction........................................................................................................................2
Limitations..........................................................................................................................2
Methodology.......................................................................................................................2
Literature Review..............................................................................................................2
Discussion...........................................................................................................................2
Academic...................................................................................................................................2
How are students influenced to volunteer?.............................................................................2
Social.........................................................................................................................................2
Economic...................................................................................................................................2

Conclusion..........................................................................................................................2
Works Cited........................................................................................................................2

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

Abstract

Volunteerism is when someone dedicates time to another person or organization with no

expectation of payment in return. As stated in the title this paper will focus on three different
types of impacts on volunteerism: social, academic, and economic because these are the most
influential factors when it comes to getting the youth involved with community service. A main
focus of this paper is the academic benefits of volunteerism on the youth because this paper was
written for a high school senior project, however the social and economic benefits were studied
as well due to the great relevance to the field of volunteerism. Volunteerism has been studied in
recent decades due to the increase in youth volunteerism and other types of civic involvement.
This paper stresses the importance of volunteerism and brings forward the problem with required
community service hours, but also the benefits of it as well.
Keywords: Volunteerism, youth, social, academic, economic, benefits

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

The Academic, Social, and Economic Impacts of Volunteerism on the Youth

of the 21st-Century

Introduction
In focusing on the academic, social, and economic impacts of volunteerism one can use
the positive results to prove why the youth should be encouraged to volunteer. Volunteerism has
increased in recent years due to the realization that it is greatly needed in todays developing
world, especially in times of need caused by natural disaster. Already developed societies lend
their manpower along with donations of money and clothing to help bring up the socio-economic
levels of other societies within this world. In order for one to understand what the impacts of
volunteerism is on the youth of todays societies one must focus on why there has been a
decrease in the apathy of the youth of this generation.
Within a students society there are many benefits that are brought back when a student
either goes over seas to volunteer or volunteers within their own community such as an increase
in academic drive or future opportunities through either a university track or the career track.
Usually college applications ask for descriptions of community service involvement.
Organizations such as Operation Smile, the UN, and the Peace Corps, as well as school required
community service or volunteer hours have helped to influence students to become involved with
volunteering from a young age. There is a definite intergenerational transmission of volunteerism
seen through the transmission of other things that are usually associated with volunteerism such
as religion and social status. There is also an increase in required community service hours by
high schools and honor societies in order to increase the interest.

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

Limitations
This topic has many limitations that include the availability of pupil to research, the
inability to travel in order to complete the research as well as time constraints and bias.
AVAILABILITY OF PUPIL. In this paper, the focus group is mainly youth with slight
exceptions of the parents of said youth. The availability of youth to research is limited to the
students who attend Tallwood High School and the schools affiliated with Tallwood through
exchange programs that include schools in the Philippines, Germany and Israel.
TRAVEL AND TIME CONSTRAINTS. In order to complete the research, it was
impossible to travel specifically for this project, however connections with countries from prior
travel helped fill those gaps. There is a lack of time as well, which leads to less original research
being possible and also restricts the use of a time study on different generations of volunteering
families.
BIAS. A major limitation for the research aspect of this paper was bias due to the fact that
those people who usually volunteer are apt to preach the benefits of volunteerism on the youth
because of how much it may have helped them personally. There is also a level of bias in this
paper due to the close connections with the organization Operation Smile and the availability of
information regarding volunteering with this organization. For example, the interview with
Katherine Mantz is biased due to a personal connection as well as Ms. Mantzs job title as the
Student Programs Associate of the US Southern Region. Since this interview is with someone
who works for a nonprofit organization that depends on her. Another bias in this paper is that the
author volunteers regularly and is also on the Regional Leadership Council for Operation Smile
to promote volunteerism for the organization.

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Methodology
There are many reasons as to why the youth would volunteer but in order to not have as
many biased sources the ones put out by different non-profits were not included excessively in
this paper. The resources used to research this topic were found both online and at the Tidewater
Community College Joint-Use Library as well as databases that were granted access through the
Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Since there are many different types of societies on this
planet from ones with a developing economy to a thriving one it was pertinent that the focus was
placed in order to focus this paper more. The focus was more so on the more developed societies
that had the economic ability to give back to lesser developed societies. The economy of the
society has a great impact on the amount of volunteerism, however the academic and societal
successes are what lead from volunteerism.
Database and library research are the main sources of information for this paper due to
the need for specific information on the topic as well as the nominative data needed in order for
there to be any scholastic standing. However, there was some data collected through a survey on
survey monkey that was created specifically for use in this research paper but it is not the main
focus as scholarly articles were more beneficial to the study of volunteerism because of the
resources the authors had to do longitudinal studies on youth.
There is an interview included in this paper, and due to close connections with Katherine
Mantz and Operation Smile, she has offered up enough time to be interviewed for this paper.
Katherine Mantz is the Student Programs Associate of the US Southern Region which makes her
capable of answering questions regarding student benefits of volunteering.

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

Literature Review
According to many different sources, volunteerism can have a many different benefits
ranging from academic, social, and even economic. This group of sources gave direct lists of
what they thought were the main benefits of volunteerism and why: Volunteerism and its
Surprising Benefits, 5 Surprising Benefits of Volunteerism, and Community Service: Top 10
Reasons to Volunteer. Two of these three sources used the word surprising as if to make it seem
that not everyone expects volunteerism to benefit the volunteer, on the contrary the each of the
sources then very neatly lists out the benefits and attempts to persuade a person to either begin
volunteering or continue volunteering. (Joanna Saisan, 2015) (Horoszowski, 2015) (UC San
Diego, 2015).
The next grouping that the sources will be analyzed according to which impact the writer
of the source was focusing on when they wrote the article or source, whether it be the social,
academic, or economic impact of volunteerism that the specific author focuses. The groups may
overlap depending on whether or not the author focused on only one aspect or on multiple like
this paper will be focusing.
In focusing on the social benefits of volunteering, it is easier for a source to influence a
greater amount of people due to the lesser focus on age, economic status, and amount of
schooling. The following sources are all related to the social benefits more so than the other
benefits: Community Service: Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer, The Association of Childhood
Personality Type with Volunteering During Adolescence, Volunteering and its Surprising Benefit,
The Benefits of Volunteerism, if the Service Is Real, and 5 Surprising Benefits of Volunteerism.
These five articles include three of the articles already mentioned however they are both listing
the reasons why a person should volunteer as well as speaking mainly about the social aspects of

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

volunteerism. (Atkins, Hart, & Donnelly, 2005) (Joanna Saisan, 2015) (Tugend, 2010) (UC San
Diego, 2015) (Horoszowski, 2015). Another two articles that relate to the social impact of
volunteerism on the youth are The Impact of Volunteer Experience on Adolescent Social
Development: Evidence of Program Effects and The Effects of High School Community Service
Programs on Students' Social Development which almost entirely helped write this paper due to
their great relevance to the topic in which the paper is focused. These two articles are included at
the end of this section beacause of their date of publication and type of publication. Both of these
articles were published in the 1980s in different academic journals which of course makes the
statistical information outdated as well as they are only focused on the youth of the United States
but some of the information is still useful in researching and writing this paper. (Stephen F.
Hamilton, 1988) (Fred M. Newmann, 1983).
A greater focus of this paper is the academic impact of volunteerism because this is a
paper for a high school course, however sources that discuss the academic impacts are very hard
to find. Both the articles Youth, Civic Engagement, and the New Information Environment, and 4
Personal Benefits of Volunteering in Your Community focus on the academic impacts moreso
than the social or economic impacts. In the second of the two articles the United Way team
focuses on the personal growth and enrichment that a student could experience from
volunteering. (Carpini, 2000) (United Way Team, 2012). The article How Service Learning
Affects Students focuses on enhancing the understanding of how learning is made better by the
act of volunteering. The focus group of this article was college undergraduates which is very
relevant to a high school senior project paper as most of the students that will be reading this
paper will be attending a university next year as an undergrad. (Alexander W. Astin, 2000). From
a different perspective comes the article The Effects of Mandatory Volunteerism on Intentions

THE IMPACTS OF VOLUNTEERISM

to Volunteer which instead of focusing on just the positive effects of volunteerism it shows a
different perspective and questions the idea of required volunteer hours. (Arthur A. Stukas,
1999).
Another very important focus of this paper are the economic affects that volunteerism
could have on the future of the youth and this was the main focus of the article by Susan J. Ellis:
Volunteering and Employability: Cause or Effect? As stated in that article we found that
volunteering is associated with a 27% increase in odds of finding employment, which is an
amazing benefit as well as the other study shown in this article are helpful in the writing of this
paper. The two studies shown in this paper are done in the United States and in the United
Kingdom which help to meet the critera of a global perspective. (Ellis, 2013).

Discussion
Academic
Through volunteering one can attain academic growth and by continuing with a single
program they can not only grow but also witness the growth of others as well as one can learn
how to create and maintain healthy relationships (United Way Team, 2012). Through a
longitudinal study completed in the fall of 1998 after about 22,000 students had completed four
years of college it was found that volunteering has a very positive effect on academic life. The
study measured 5 different aspects of a student and those were academic performance values,
self- efficacy, leadership, choice of a service career, and plans to participate in service after
college (Alexander W. Astin, 2000).
Due to these findings about how volunteerism helps students grow in and out of the
classroom the group most likely to volunteer is young adults ages 15 to 24 which is right around

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10

high school to college age and when there would be the greater need to volunteer for personal
reasons as well as required volunteer hours (Jones, 2000).
In an interview with Katherine Mantz, the Student Programs Associate of the US
Southern Region for Operation Smile, she was asked if she saw a connection between
volunteerism and good grades, her answer was I think those who volunteer gain self-confidence
and learn through hands on experience which helps create a learning environment and willpower
that is helpful for students to succeed (Mantz, 2015).

How are students influenced to volunteer?

The Global Studies and World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School has a
required 140 hours before their students may graduate from the academy after the four years.
This of course instills competition between the students due to the award given at the academy
graduation to the student with the most volunteer hours. Students at the GSWLA are not the only
students that are required to attain community service or volunteer hours. The National Honor
Societies all require that students inducted maintain their community outreach and complete a
specific amount of hours to stay in the honor society. In addition, other schools in the Hampton
Roads area require these hours as well, especially the academies or private schools.
From a different perspective however, as mentioned in the article The Effects of
Mandatory Volunteerism on Intentions to Volunteer a group of college students were studied
because they were required to complete hours prior to graduation, similar to the GSWLA, and
they developed a negative relationship with volunteerism (Arthur A. Stukas, 1999). Developing
this negative relationship early in life could lead to a life with little to no volunteering, which in
the end could be more harmful than if as a student they were highly encouraged instead of
required.

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Due to the two different sides seen in this issue the focus of the National Educational
Longitudinal Study was voluntary and school-required community service in high school and the
study found that both were strong predictors of adult voting and volunteering and other forms of
civic engagement (Hart, Donnelly, Youniss, & Atkins, 2007). Although over the past few decades
a decrease in civic engagement has occurred, it may be on the rise again due to the increase in
volunteering among students. Political scientists have observed that volunteering has an impact
on different types of civic engagement, specifically voting and being involved in the political
process.

Social
Volunteerism can increase ones social and relationship skills in many ways by creating
and solidifying friendships and other connections, including business and personal. For someone
who is not as outgoing as another person, volunteering may make it easier for them to make
friends and step out of their comfort zone due to the group of people they had the chance to
interact with through volunteering. When people meet through volunteering at an animal shelter,
for example, they share a common interest which is animals and their well-being which could
lead to a strong tie between the groups of people due to the shared goal of saving animals.
Volunteering can also help someone try something new and explore their interests as well as have
wonderful experiences with new people or strengthen their relationships with people who are
already their friends. Volunteering is also known for connecting a person to their community
more by helping create these relationships as well as making them feel as though they are
making a difference in the lives of others.
By providing a sense of purpose, volunteering can help take someones mind off of
problems at home or within themselves. Volunteering also helps to fight against anxiety, and

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depression and is used as a therapeutic activity by many people who struggle with a mental
illness. As stated in a Harvard Health Publication when researchers at the London School of
Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large
group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were
(Joanna Saisan, 2015). According to a study done in London the more volunteering a person did
the happier they felt, which could be beneficial in more than one way due to the number of kids
in developed countries that suffer from depression (Horoszowski, 2015). Volunteerism is healthy
in many other ways than just helping with depression because it can also help to relieve stress as
well as strengthen the immune system (UC San Diego, 2015). Both consistency and diversity
with volunteering lead to the greatest feeling of accomplishment when it comes to self-reported
mental and physical health, which could mean a better way of combating depression and other
mental illnesses (Piliavin, 2007). Studies have also proven that increased volunteerism leads to a
decrease in participation problem behaviors such as school truancy and drug abuse (Wilson J. ,
2000).
Although it was published in 1983 by Fred Newmann and Robert Rutter, The Effects of
High School Community Service Programs on Students Social Development was a very helpful
tool in studying volunteerism because it was a study of eight different high schools that not only
require community service hours but a minimum per week as well as a requirement that students
spend actual class time studying the subject in which they volunteer (Fred M. Newmann, 1983).
Volunteerism can show the importance of selflessness and what role a child or a teenager
can play in their community at a young age and it could also open them up to volunteering more
seriously as a volunteer fire fighter or EMT once they reach the age of 18, which are both very
important positions are definitely needed within the community (Action Without Borders, 2015).

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But even when someone is under the age of 18 they can still make an impact on their society
through volunteering at the local animal shelter or picking up trash from the street.
Volunteerism has mostly changed due to the current generation of parents being more
interested in making sure their child is well-rounded and having a different attitude about
volunteering. To quote Alina Tugend, My parents were certainly civic-minded, but they were a
lot more concerned about the work I did around the house, which shows that the older
generation of parents had a focus that was closer to home than the current generation of parents
(Tugend, 2010). When there is political talk in the household when a child is growing up the
more likely a student is to be involved in not only politics but volunteering as well (Andolina,
Jenkins, Zukin, & Keeter, 2003).
A study was done in six different Ney York State counties to see how the gender and age
of the adolescent effects the completion rate of 12 different volunteer programs. There were 84
participants, all ages 11-17, who were able to choose between two different types of
volunteering, child care and community improvement. As expected, not all 84 participants were
able to complete their project however a majority of them did, as well as females had a better
success rate than did the males (Stephen F. Hamilton, 1988).
In a study done at Rutgers University, it was proven that there is a correlation between
personality and amount of volunteerism although there are many who are on the fence about
whether or not the two are actually correlated (Atkins, Hart, & Donnelly, 2005). Atkins, Hart and
Donnelly conducted a longitudinal study through the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth
(NLSY) studying how they are raised as well as their personality affect the amount of time they
dedicate to civic engagement.

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Economic
Although the volunteer does not receive monetary rewards for the job done there
are many positive economic impacts due to the skills learned while volunteering. When someone
applies to a job after volunteering at multiple places or consistently at one place for an extended
period of time their application and resume look a lot better than someone elses who doesnt
have the volunteer experience that they do. The Higher Education Research Institute at the
University of California, Los Angeles conducted studies that proved that education is a stepping
stone from volunteering to occupation, which is why many high schools or colleges require
hours of community service.
In a study done in the UK it has been determined that volunteerism promotes
employability due to the skills developed as well as the social skills needed in order to volunteer
in a group setting (Ellis, 2013). By continuing to volunteer with a single organization it
demonstrates to a future employer that someone is very dedicated and passionate as well as
hardworking and loyal. It is said that volunteering can act as a step towards either getting a job or
moving up in the job a person currently has, expecially if its one organization over a long period
of time (Wilson J. M., 1999).
When asked what jobs could result from a passion for volunteering, Katherine Mantz
replied Most nonprofit run like any other business and are always looking for volunteers to help
in all aspects of the organization. This is a great way to shadow and learn from a field that you
might be interested in (Mantz, 2015). Such is the case when students from Virginia Beach
volunteer at the different hospitals in the city in order to get a feel for the medical field, some
learn that they would love to be a doctor, others learn that the medical field is not for them.

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Conclusion
If it doesnt benefit a student but takes up their time they are less likely to do it, but if it is
proven to them on three different levels they will take time out of their busy school schedule.
Academically, socially and economically volunteering can greatly benefit a student not only in
the now but in their future. Students who volunteer can achieve academic growth whether or not
the volunteering is required for graduation, such is the case at the Global Studies and World
Languages Academy at Tallwood High School or other academies or private schools in the
Hampton Roads area. In a social sense, volunteering can help someone combat anxiety,
depression and other mental illnesses as well as create strong and lasting friendships.
Economically, volunteering can either serve as a stepping stone to a higher learning institution or
to a promotion at ones preexisting job because it shows dedication as well as gives the volunteer
different skills that may be needed for either a college education or in the work place. There are
many benefits to volunteering and in the future there should continue to be an increase in
volunteering done by the youth.

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Works Cited
Action Without Borders. (2015). Why is volunteering important? Retrieved December 10, 2015,
from Idealist: http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Why
Alexander W. Astin, L. J. (2000). How Service Learning Affects Students. Higher Education .
Andolina, M. W., Jenkins, K., Zukin, C., & Keeter, S. (2003). Habits from Home, Lessons from
School: Influences on Youth Civic Engagement. PS, Political Science and Politics , 275280.
Arthur A. Stukas, M. S. (1999). The Effects of "Mandatory Volunteerism" on Intentions to
Volunteer. Special Topics, General , 59-64.
Atkins, R., Hart, D., & Donnelly, T. M. (2005). The Association of Childhood Personality Type
With Volunteering During Adolescence. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly , 145-162.
Carpini, M. X. (2000). Youth, Civic Engagement, and the New Information Environment.
Political Communication , 341-349.
Ellis, S. J. (2013, August 1). Volunteering and Employability: Cause or Effect? Retrieved
December 10, 2015, from Energize Inc: https://www.energizeinc.com/hottopics/2013/august
Fred M. Newmann, R. A. (1983). The Effects of High School Community Service Programs on
Students' Social Development. Wisconsin Center for Education Research, Madison.
Washington, DC: National Institute of Education.
Hart, D., Donnelly, T. M., Youniss, J., & Atkins, R. (2007). High School Community Service as a
Predictor of Adult Voting and Volunteering. American Educational Research Journal ,
197-219.

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Horoszowski, M. (2015, March 19). 5 Surprising Benefits of Volunteerism. Retrieved December

10, 2015, from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2015/03/19/5-surprisingbenefits-of-volunteering/print/
Joanna Saisan, M. S. (2015, September 15). Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits. Retrieved
December 10, 2015, from HelpGuide.org: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/workcareer/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm
Jones, F. (2000). Youth Volunteering on the Rise. Perspectives , 75 (1), 36-42.
Mantz, K. (2015, December 14). Volunteerism. (J. Graziani, Interviewer)
Piliavin, J. A. (2007). Health Benefits of Volunteering in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.
Journal of Health and Social Behavior , 48 (4), 450-464.
Stephen F. Hamilton, L. M. (1988). The Impact of Volunteer Experience on Adolescent Social
Development: Evidence of Program Effects . Journal of Adolescent Research , 3 (1), 6580.
Tugend, A. (2010, July 30). The Benefits of Volunteerism, if the Service Is Real. Retrieved
December 10, 2015, from nytimes.com: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/yourmoney/31shortcuts.html?_r=0
UC San Diego. (2015, August 5). Community Service: Top 10 Reasons to Volunteer. Retrieved
December 10, 2015, from UC San Diego TritonLink: https://students.ucsd.edu/studentlife/involvement/community/reasons.html
United Way Team. (2012, October 2). 4 Personal Benefits of Volunteering in Your Community.
Retrieved December 10, 2015, from Unitedway.org: http://www.unitedway.org/blog/4personal-benefits-of-volunteering-in-your-community

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Wilson, J. M. (1999). The Effects of Volunteering on the Volunteer. Law and Contemporary
Problems , 62 (4), 141-168.
Wilson, J. (2000). Volunteering. Annual Review of Sociology , 26, 215240.