Volunteering and the positive impact on mental health
From a report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies
A new study in Australia has found that if a child is involved in volunteering before the age of 13, the odds of having poor mental health are reduced by around 28%.
As well, children who demonstrate ‘prosocial’ behaviours, such as caring for others or doing acts of kindness, were 11% less likely to experience mental ill-health.
The data was collected as part of Growing Up in Australia: A Longitudinal Study of Children (LSAC) which has been following the development of 10,000 children since 2003.
Researcher, Karlee O’Donnell, said the findings indicate that parents should encourage their children to volunteer in the community, particularly in the pre-teen years. “Volunteering is one way for children to develop their prosocial skills as it provides the opportunity to care for others, show kindness and learn to take on others' perspectives. This study shows the tremendous benefits of volunteering for reducing the risk of mental ill-health – especially in the pre-teen years when mental health symptoms often come to the fore for children or become worse.”
The volunteering can take many forms, such as helping at a local community sports club, participating in a community working bee, or more formal volunteering with a charity or church group. “It’s the act of helping others in the wider community, and building empathy and understanding, that is a critical protective factor against mental ill-health,” Karlee said.
Director, Dr Sharman Stone, said, “Parents, carers, schools and policymakers should be more aware of its value and be supportive and encouraging, Now more than ever we are seeing the serious impact of mental ill health on young Australians – which includes high youth suicide rates and the high numbers of teens diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression.”
The level of poor mental health symptoms in children increases in each year of development, with a substantial increase between the ages of 13 and 17.
Read the full report here.
To what extent are you involving young children as volunteers, especially alongside their parents?
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From a report by the Australian Institute of Famil, 09/08/2023