SynthesisThe Gerontologist2026
Health benefits and harms of older adult volunteering: mixed methods systematic review.
Synthesis in The Gerontologist, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesVolunteering is recommended to promote healthy aging in older adults. This review investigated the benefits and harms of older adult volunteering on a range of health outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND
methodsA systematic search of four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycINFO) was conducted. Data were extracted and categorized according to health outcome. This review was registered on PROSPERO https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023456281RO.
resultsThe search yielded 182 papers related to a wide range of health benefits and harms. RCTs were assessed for risk of bias using CASP checklists. There were 11 RCT papers from five trials. Included RCTs had a high risk of bias. Benefits and harms were categorized into biological, psychological, social, and biopsychosocial intersect domains. Papers largely reported on multiple health benefits of volunteering. There were negligible reports of harms compared to benefits. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Volunteering is seemingly beneficial to older adults, though more evidence from experimental studies is needed to clarify discrepancies and substantiate current recommendations. Harms may be under-reported. Further clarity may allow for more older adults to participate in volunteering, while maximizing health benefits and avoiding harms. Additionally, further research could inform governments and volunteer organizations on how to implement and advertise programs appropriately.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.