Reciprocal Relationship Between Lifelong Learning and Volunteering Among Older Adults

Objectives Lifelong learning and volunteering contribute to not only health and well-being, but also social inclusion and cohesion among older adults. However, less is known about whether lifelong learning and volunteering promote each other. This study examined the reciprocal relationship between older adults' lifelong learning and volunteering and whether the relationship varied by the purpose of lifelong learning. Methods Cross-lagged panel models were applied to data on 2,608 older adults, aged 60 years and older, from 2 waves of a national longitudinal study from Singapore. Results We found a bidirectional relationship between lifelong learning and volunteering. However, when job-related and nonjob-related lifelong learning were considered separately, only nonjob-related lifelong learning predicted volunteering. On the other hand, volunteering predicted both job-related and nonjob-related lifelong learning. Discussion Lifelong learning leads to volunteering, and vice versa, creating a virtuous circle of productive social engagement in later life. Programs or initiatives engaging older adults in either productive activity should promote and provide opportunities for participation in the other activity.

Automated summary

Lifelong learning and volunteering have a reciprocal relationship, with non-job-related lifelong learning predicting volunteering, and volunteering predicting both job-related and non-job-related lifelong learning. These findings suggest that promoting and providing opportunities for both lifelong learning and volunteering can create a virtuous circle of productive social engagement in later life.