Balancing acts of kindness
Reassessing the relationship between informal helping and formal volunteering
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2301413 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hans-Peter Y Qvist (0000-0001-6231-3123, Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 478-490 |
| Publication date | 2024-11-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Acta Sociologica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0001-6993 • E-ISSN: 1502-3869 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00016993241233431 |
| OpenAlex | W4391947844 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 27 |
Although time is a finite resource, much sociological research suggests a positive association between engagement in informal helping activities and formal volunteering. However, it remains unclear whether this relationship is causal and, if so, in which direction the causality runs. To address these issues, I draw on two-wave panel data from Denmark. Using a cross-lagged panel model, I find no evidence that formal volunteering hours affect informal helping activities. However, in the reverse direction, I find evidence of a right-skewed inverse U-shaped relationship. Specifically, the time individuals dedicate to formal volunteering marginally increases with time allocated to informal helping activities, but only as long as their informal helping obligations remain modest. However, once these informal helping obligations reach approximately 20 hours, the time individuals spend on formal volunteering decreases with informal helping hours. These findings suggest that even exceptionally helpful individuals, often referred to as 'super-helpers,' must balance their acts of kindness and their available time and energy. Moreover, I argue that while many people are motivated to engage in formal volunteering to benefit others, those with family and friends requiring assistance tend to prioritize these responsibilities before volunteering
Affect (linguistics · Balance (ability · Causality (physics · Helping behavior · Kindness · Political science · Prosocial behavior · Sociology · Law · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Psychology · Social Capital and Networks · Social Psychology · Tourism, Volunteerism, and Development
Formal and Informal Volunteer Activity and Spousal Caregiving Among Older Adults
Participation in formal and informal volunteering
A critique of the cross-lagged panel model.
Beyond Voluntary Organizations and the Welfare State
Volunteers
Causal Analysis with Panel Data
Formal and Informal Volunteering in a Nordic Context
Intangible activities—the prevalence of informal helping in Denmark
Links between informal caregiving and volunteering in Sweden
Caregiving and Volunteering
In search of the non-profit sector II
The Determinants of Formal and Informal Volunteering
Volunteer work, informal help, and care among the 50+ in Europe
Happy to Help? Exploring the Factors Associated with Variations in Rates of Volunteering Across Europe
Patterns of Formal and Informal Social Capital in Europe
Who Cares? Toward an Integrated Theory of Volunteer Work
Maximum Likelihood for Cross-lagged Panel Models with Fixed Effects
How to Deal With Reverse Causality Using Panel Data? Recommendations for Researchers Based on a Simulation Study
Secular and religious volunteering among immigrants and natives in Denmark
Social Participation Revisited
| Unique citing works | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 5 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |