ABSTRACT
Prolonged longevity and improved life quality among old-old people increase the relevance of volunteering behavior in very late life. Studies indicate that older volunteers enjoy higher physical and mental well-being (Wheeler, Gorey, & Greenblatt, 1998). Typically analyzing cross-sectional data, these studies cannot ascertain the direction of causation between volunteering and well-being. However, the few investigations of prospective data indicate that volunteering enhances well-being over time (Van Willigen, 2000) and reduces mortality risk (Musick, Herzog, & House, 1999; Oman, Thoresen, & McMahon, 1999).
