Health Benefits and Harms of Older Adult Volunteering: Mixed Methods Systematic Review

Nath Williams; Marcelo Maghidman; Dai Pu; Debra Mitchell; Terry P. Haines

doi:10.1093/geront/gnag043

Health Benefits and Harms of Older Adult Volunteering: Mixed Methods Systematic Review

Nath Williams (Leading Author)
, Marcelo Maghidman
, Dai Pu
, Debra Mitchell
, Terry P. Haines

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Volunteering is recommended to promote healthy aging in older adults. This review investigated the benefits and harms of older adult volunteering on a range of health outcomes.

Research Design and Methods
A systematic search of four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo) was conducted. Data were extracted and categorised according to health outcome. This review was registered on PROSPERO crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php? RecordID=456281.

Results
The search yielded 182 papers related to a wide range of health benefits and harms. RCTs were assessed for risk of bias using CASP checklists. There were 11 RCT papers from 5 trials. Included RCTs had a high risk of bias. Benefits and harms were categorized into biological, psychological, social and biopsychosocial intersect domains. Papers largely reported on multiple health benefits of volunteering. There were negligible reports of harms compared to benefits.

Discussion and Implications
Volunteering is seemingly beneficial to older adults, though more evidence from experimental studies is needed to clarify discrepancies and substantiate current recommendations. Harms may be underreported. Further clarity may allow for more older adults to participate in volunteering, while maximising health benefits and avoiding harms. Additionally, further research could inform governments and volunteer organisations on how to implement and advertise programs appropriately.

Original language	English
Article number	gnag043
Number of pages	15
Journal	The Gerontologist
Volume	66
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnag043
Publication status	Published - May 2026

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10.1093/geront/gnag043Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{b74363575d1449299bb667a10b3f9a8f,

title = "Health Benefits and Harms of Older Adult Volunteering: Mixed Methods Systematic Review",

abstract = "Background and Objectives Volunteering is recommended to promote healthy aging in older adults. This review investigated the benefits and harms of older adult volunteering on a range of health outcomes. Research Design and Methods A systematic search of four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo) was conducted. Data were extracted and categorised according to health outcome. This review was registered on PROSPERO crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display\_record.php? RecordID=456281. Results The search yielded 182 papers related to a wide range of health benefits and harms. RCTs were assessed for risk of bias using CASP checklists. There were 11 RCT papers from 5 trials. Included RCTs had a high risk of bias. Benefits and harms were categorized into biological, psychological, social and biopsychosocial intersect domains. Papers largely reported on multiple health benefits of volunteering. There were negligible reports of harms compared to benefits. Discussion and Implications Volunteering is seemingly beneficial to older adults, though more evidence from experimental studies is needed to clarify discrepancies and substantiate current recommendations. Harms may be underreported. Further clarity may allow for more older adults to participate in volunteering, while maximising health benefits and avoiding harms. Additionally, further research could inform governments and volunteer organisations on how to implement and advertise programs appropriately.",

author = "Nath Williams and Marcelo Maghidman and Dai Pu and Debra Mitchell and Haines, \{Terry P.\}",

year = "2026",

month = may,

doi = "10.1093/geront/gnag043",

language = "English",

volume = "66",

journal = "The Gerontologist",

issn = "0016-9013",

publisher = "Oxford University Press, USA",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health Benefits and Harms of Older Adult Volunteering

T2 - Mixed Methods Systematic Review

AU - Maghidman, Marcelo

AU - Pu, Dai

AU - Mitchell, Debra

AU - Haines, Terry P.

A2 - Williams, Nath

PY - 2026/5

Y1 - 2026/5

N2 - Background and Objectives Volunteering is recommended to promote healthy aging in older adults. This review investigated the benefits and harms of older adult volunteering on a range of health outcomes. Research Design and Methods A systematic search of four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo) was conducted. Data were extracted and categorised according to health outcome. This review was registered on PROSPERO crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php? RecordID=456281. Results The search yielded 182 papers related to a wide range of health benefits and harms. RCTs were assessed for risk of bias using CASP checklists. There were 11 RCT papers from 5 trials. Included RCTs had a high risk of bias. Benefits and harms were categorized into biological, psychological, social and biopsychosocial intersect domains. Papers largely reported on multiple health benefits of volunteering. There were negligible reports of harms compared to benefits. Discussion and Implications Volunteering is seemingly beneficial to older adults, though more evidence from experimental studies is needed to clarify discrepancies and substantiate current recommendations. Harms may be underreported. Further clarity may allow for more older adults to participate in volunteering, while maximising health benefits and avoiding harms. Additionally, further research could inform governments and volunteer organisations on how to implement and advertise programs appropriately.

AB - Background and Objectives Volunteering is recommended to promote healthy aging in older adults. This review investigated the benefits and harms of older adult volunteering on a range of health outcomes. Research Design and Methods A systematic search of four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo) was conducted. Data were extracted and categorised according to health outcome. This review was registered on PROSPERO crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php? RecordID=456281. Results The search yielded 182 papers related to a wide range of health benefits and harms. RCTs were assessed for risk of bias using CASP checklists. There were 11 RCT papers from 5 trials. Included RCTs had a high risk of bias. Benefits and harms were categorized into biological, psychological, social and biopsychosocial intersect domains. Papers largely reported on multiple health benefits of volunteering. There were negligible reports of harms compared to benefits. Discussion and Implications Volunteering is seemingly beneficial to older adults, though more evidence from experimental studies is needed to clarify discrepancies and substantiate current recommendations. Harms may be underreported. Further clarity may allow for more older adults to participate in volunteering, while maximising health benefits and avoiding harms. Additionally, further research could inform governments and volunteer organisations on how to implement and advertise programs appropriately.

U2 - 10.1093/geront/gnag043

DO - 10.1093/geront/gnag043

M3 - Article

SN - 0016-9013

VL - 66

JO - The Gerontologist

JF - The Gerontologist

IS - 5

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