Understanding the effects of volunteering on well-being: subjective, psychological, and social well-being, gratitude, and loneliness.

BACKGROUND: Volunteering has long been recognized as a meaningful social activity that may contribute to personal and community well-being. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of volunteering on subjective, psychological, and social well-being, along with gratitude and loneliness, through an examination of their interrelationships and key influencing factors. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, incorporating both urban and rural populations. A total of 523 participants aged 18 and older recruited using convent convenience sampling methods from public spaces, healthcare facilities, and community centers. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22, employing descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and regression analysis to identify predictors of volunteering. A p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS: Volunteering was observed to be more prevalent among older adults, males, retirees, and individuals with lower levels of education. Regression analyses revealed that volunteering significantly predicted psychological well-being (β = 0.176, p < .001, adj. R² = 0.093) and social well-being (β = 0.106, p = .033, adj. R² = 0.050), with a marginal association noted with gratitude (β = 0.085, p = .077, adj. R² = 0.100). Conversely, no significant relationship was found between volunteering and subjective well-being (β = 0.048, p = .337, adj. R² = 0.042) or loneliness (β = 0.023, p = .635, adj. R² = 0.050). Furthermore, demographic predictors, including age, gender, marital status, education, employment status, and smoking habits, were identified as influencing these outcomes. CONCLUSION: Volunteering has been associated with enhanced psychological and social well-being, exhibiting a marginal effect on gratitude; however, it demonstrated no significant impact on subjective well-being or loneliness. Additionally, demographic factors played a role in influencing well-being, underscoring the potential of volunteering as a viable strategy for promoting mental and social health.