Medical Student Motivations to Volunteer: Gender Differences and Comparisons to Other Volunteers

SUMMARY. This investigation examined medical students' motivations for participating in a volunteer community-based program for pregnant women provided primarily to traditionally underserved groups. Demographic, psychosocial, and motivational characteristics of 40 students participating in the Maternal Care Program were assessed with a self-report instrument. Medical students' motivations to participate (assessed in 6 volunteer motive categories) were higher in all categories than those found in previous studies of active adult volunteers, and university students. The rank-ordering of the importance of the motive categories also differed for medical students compared to the other groups.