Image by Chaiyan Anuwatmongkolchai from Pixabay
Image by Chaiyan Anuwatmongkolchai from Pixabay

Volunteering may help kids and teens flourish

Embargoed until: Publicly released:
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.

People: This is a study based on research using people.

Volunteering may help kids and teens flourish, according to US research which found links between volunteering and higher odds of excellent or very good health in kids and adolescents, and with lower odds of anxiety in adolescents and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. The authors say the findings encourage further investigation to see if volunteering causes these benefits and if it does, whether it could be prescribed as a public health intervention. They say youths who help others may be helping themselves now and later.

Journal/conference: JAMA Network Open

Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.15980

Organisation/s: Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living in Austin, USA

Funder: None reported.

Media release

From: JAMA

Volunteering, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents

JAMA Network Open
Research Letter

Volunteering, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents in the United States

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

About The Study: Using survey data from across the United States, researchers found that volunteering was associated with higher odds of excellent or very good health and flourishing in children and adolescents, and with lower odds of anxiety in adolescents and behavioral problems in children and adolescents.

Authors: Kevin Lanza, Ph.D., of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living in Austin, Texas, is the corresponding author. 

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.15980)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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