Factors associated with adolescents’ volunteering and impact on their positive development
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Hung, Chang-Yun
Abstract
To echo the growing concerns on adolescents’ volunteering work internationally over the past two decades, Taiwan has been working on establishing Youth Volunteering Centers, Youth Volunteer Services for Regional Peace, and implementing service-learning programs to encourage young people to get involved in voluntary services. Meanwhile, NGOs will hold awarding ceremonies to encourage adolescents to participate in volunteering. It is obvious that the Government put great emphases on youth volunteering services by implementing policies and proposals related to this issue. However, most adults expect adolescents to spend more time in schoolwork instead of doing voluntary services, which becomes a great obstacle in promoting adolescents’ engagement in volunteering. It is important to have the society understand what young people can learn from participating volunteering work, and such experiences cannot be replaced by lessons taught schools. This study attempted to examine the relationship of self-esteem, interpersonal relationship, and sense of citizenship with volunteering, and to examine social factors related to adolescents’ participation in volunteering work. Since service-learning plans are widely promoted in recent years, the study also analyzed if service-learning and volunteering experiences had impact on the development of these youth differently.
This study sampled 605 high school students in Taipei and New Taipei City to participate in the survey; 586 questionnaires had completed data. The results indicated that those who had volunteering experiences would have better interpersonal relationships, sense of citizenship, and higher self-esteem. However, participating in the service-learning program would have no impact on these aspects of positive development. Family and peer support increased the chances of participating in volunteering work. Aside from that, adolescents with more peers or friends participated in volunteering were more likely to be volunteers themselves. Those who obtained more assistance from supervisors would get involved more in their volunteering. In conclusion, volunteering experiences among youth people should be greatly encouraged. Supervisors at NGOs should pay more attention to young volunteers, appropriately provided assistance and support they need. Group volunteering programs – for young people to work with their friends – would definitely recruit more adolescents to be volunteers. Government and educational systems should reexamine the existing problems of service-learning and redesign it to increase adolescents’ intention to do volunteer work.
Subjects
Adolescents
volunteering
service-learning
self-esteem
interpersonal relationship
citizenship
SDGs
Type
thesis
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