Volunteering in old age
Why do men in the second half of their lives volunteer more often, even though more women express interest in doing so?
Answers are provided in a new publication by Frank Micheel, Alina Schmitz, and Martina Brandt based on data from the DEAS (German Center for Ageing Issues). The article, published in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, analyzes the key factors and barriers to volunteering in Germany.
Key findings of the study:
- The gender gap: Men are more active in volunteering, while women have greater untapped potential.
- Conflict with caregiving: Informal caregiving responsibilities, such as looking after grandchildren, pose a particular hurdle for women.
- Need for political action: The study shows that targeted measures are needed to improve the compatibility of volunteering and caregiving responsibilities.
The study makes an important contribution to the debate on civic engagement in the context of demographic change.
The full article “Enabling Factors and Barriers to Volunteering (Potentials) in the Second Half of Life” is available here: https://doi.org/10.1177/08997640251374269