Cognitive Benefits of Volunteering

While the evidence on the cognitive benefits of volunteering is limited, some studies have found positive associations between volunteering and cognitive function. The systematic review [2] reported that seven out of the included studies confirmed that volunteering positively affects volunteers’ cognitive function, particularly global cognitive abilities.

Interestingly, the review [2] also found that women and individuals with lower education levels seemed to benefit more from the positive effects of volunteering on cognition. However, the optimal frequency of volunteering for cognitive benefits remains unclear, with some studies suggesting a dose-response relationship and others indicating a specific range of hours per year as beneficial.