THE INFLUENCE OF VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITESTI STUDENTS IN ELDERLY PERSONS’ QUALITY OF LIFE

• Main Authors: Mariana Ionela Tudor, Constantin Ciucurel, Elena Ioana Iconaru, Horia Traila
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editura Universitatii din Pitesti 2012-12-01
• Series: Current Trends in Natural Sciences
• Subjects: volunteering; activities; students; quality of life; elderly
• Online Access: http://www.upit.ro/uploads/facultatea_st/CTNS_1_2/Paper%2025.pdf

As the non-formal component of education is increasingly widespread in preparing young people to exercise their role as active and responsible citizens, the University of Pitesti promotes volunteering as a way of involving students in local community’s life. With this article we intend to establish, on the bases of a randomized control trial, how volunteering interventions can influence the quality of life of old people from health care units. Our research activity was carried on a sample of sixteen participants aged 65-80 years old that were randomized divided into one intervention (N=8) and one control group (N=8). During 3 months of surveillance, the intervention group was assisted in activities of daily living and in socialization by life stories reminiscence sessions. Physical independence level and psychometric data on stress, depression, sadness, anger, sense of purpose and affection were collected at the beginning and then compared with the final results. Statistical analyses showed significant improvements of the specific quality of life indicators for the intervention group. There were also identified some triggers (sense of purpose, relationships and perceived health) of these improvements. Although an emerging social practice in Romania, volunteering can be used to improve the quality of life through different pathways.