Volunteering May Boost Kids’ Well-Being, Study Says
Posted by Time on July 25, 2023
Kids and teenagers who volunteer may be helping not only their communities, but also themselves, according to research published May 30 in JAMA Network Open.
Volunteering through school, a religious organization, or a community group is associated with better overall health and wellness among children and adolescents, the researchers found. Compared to kids who hadn’t participated in community service in the past year, those who had were 34% more likely to be in excellent or very good health, 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing” (a positive measure of overall well-being), and 35% less likely to have behavioral problems.
Kids ages 12 and older who volunteered were also roughly 25% less likely to have anxiety than peers who didn’t, although that finding didn’t carry over to children younger than 12. However, anxiety was more prevalent among older kids: about 19% of kids 12 and older experienced anxiety, versus 11% of those younger than 12.
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