Beyond Helping: Personal Benefits of Volunteeringamong Young Adults

Abstract

Introduction. Evidence suggests that individuals who engage in volunteer activities not only benefit the recipients of their help but also experience positive effects in their own lives. However, many aspects remain to be explored regarding what distinguishes those who engage in volunteer work from those who do not. This study aims to examine the differences between volunteers and non-volunteers in certain personal resources, such as spiritual intelligence and gratitude, as well as in their levels of social, psychological, and emotional well-being, referred to here as flourishing.
Method. A total of 279 young adults of both sexes aged 18 to 35 years (M=22.35; SD=3.28) from various Argentine provinces participated in the study. The instruments used were the Spiritual Intelligence Scale (EIEs-28), the Gratitude Questionnaire (G-20), and the Multidimensional Flourishing Scale. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analyses of Variance (MANOVA).
Results. The results showed statistically significant differences between volunteers and non-volunteers in several dimensions of spiritual intelligence (development: F[1.28]=30.96, p<0.05; crisis and deepening: F[1.28]=4.46; p<0.05), gratitude (gratitude in suffering: F[1.28]=10.16; p<0.05; recognition of gifts: F[1.28]=4.18; 
p<0.05; expression of gratitude: F[1.28]=15.24; p<0.05), and flourishing (social well-being: F[1.28]=6.12; p<0.05).
Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that young adults involved in volunteer activities exhibit significantly higher levels of spiritual intelligence, gratitude, and social well-being compared to those who do not engage in such activities. These differences imply that volunteering may be associated with the development and strengthening of personal resources and flourishing. Far from being merely an altruistic act, volunteering also appears to offer a valuable space for personal and social growth. Therefore, promoting these types of practices could represent an effective way to foster holistic well-being in young adults.