Social Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering has been consistently linked to improved social outcomes, such as increased social support, social integration, social networks, and a sense of community [1, 4]. When social support, sense of community, and social networks were combined, the evidence mostly found that volunteering improved these social outcomes [1].

The social benefits of volunteering can have a ripple effect on other aspects of well-being. As stated in the umbrella review [1], social factors have a knock-on effect for other health and well-being outcomes, providing protective effects against potential negative outcomes.