Date of Award

1996

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Social Work

Keywords

Sociology, Industrial and Labor Relations.

Supervisor

Hall, A.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The intent of this study is to examine the relationship between the major characteristics and motivations of female volunteers in long-term care settings. Both a detailed description of who tends to volunteer as well as a sociocultural explanation for why one volunteers are provided. To assist in the sociocultural explanation, a life course paradigm of work transitions is utilized. Age-related differences in volunteer motivation are expected and represent the central focus of this study: Older women are primarily motivated by the internal rewards of volunteering whereas the younger volunteers are primarily motivated by the career-related rewards. The influence of gender, occupation, and setting are also considered. A questionnaire of mostly close-ended style questions is distributed by volunteers coordinators to the female volunteers of the long-term care organizations within the Windsor/Essex County area. A compilation of social characteristics presents the "typical" long-term care volunteer profile of a married, older woman of lower educational attainment, whose former main work position is lower-skilled, and whose volunteer work consists mainly of providing direct services to clients that are socio-emotional in nature. Support for the research hypotheses regarding the age-related differences in volunteer motivation is obtained and commonly identified reasons for volunteering are further explored. The relationship between one's main work tasks and one's volunteer tasks is also examined. The study concludes with the recognition of topical areas worthy of further research and the implications for the development and improvement of volunteer programming within a long-term care context.Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1996 .F38. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0143. Adviser: Alan Hall. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1996.

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