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62 Law and Contemp. Probs. 141 (1999)
The Effects of Volunteering on the Volunteer

handle is hein.journals/lcp62 and id is 947 raw text is: THE EFFECTS OF VOLUNTEERING ON THE VOLUNTEER JOHN WILSON* AND MARC MUSICK** I INTRODUCTION To most people, a volunteer is someone who contributes time to helping others with no expectation of pay or other material benefit to herself. However, this does not mean that volunteer work is of no consequence for the volunteer. Indeed, it is widely believed that helping others is as beneficial for the donor as it is for the recipient. Research studies show that most people do in fact hold the belief that helping others is a good way to gain fulfillment for yourself.' In this article, we review some of the research on the supposed benefits of volunteering and describe briefly some of the results of our own work in this area. We first examine the contribution volunteering is thought to make to a society's social capital, its supply of the generalized trust and norms of reciprocity that make democratic politics possible. Are volunteers more civic minded and more likely to take an active role in political life? Next, we examine the possible link between volunteering and leading the good life. Are volunteers less likely to engage in anti-social behavior? We then consider the contribution volunteering might make to both physical and mental health. Is there any evidence to suggest that volunteering can make people healthier or contribute positive feelings of well-being? Finally, we examine the contribution volunteering makes to occupational achievement. Is there any empirical evidence to support the notion that volunteering is either a direct path to good jobs or indirectly provides the self-confidence and skills needed to secure good jobs or to do well in the jobs we have? II CITIZENSHIP For a number of reasons, the possibility that volunteering is useful for building and maintaining civil society-a sphere of activity where people feel free to organize groups, engage in public debate, and in which norms of mutual Copyright © 2000 by John Wilson and Marc Musick This article is also available at http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/62LCPWilson. The analysis of data reported in this article was made possible by a grant from the Nonprofit Sector Research Fund of the Aspen Institute. * Professor of Sociology, Duke University. ** Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin. 1. See ROBERT WUTHNOW, AcTs OF COMPASSION 87 (1991).

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