Stocktaking: Evidence on Volunteering of Older Persons from Statistical Studies

Transcription

1 Stocktaking: Evidence on Volunteering of Older Persons from Statistical Studies Seminar: Volunteering of Older Persons and the Role of Public Policies Brussels, 11. March 2009 Dr. Volker Then Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 1

2 Approach and Summary of Statistical Findings Why using EVS (European Values Survey) and SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) data? The Studies have been selected for the following reasons: Focus on European comparability Large N Release year Although national surveys would probably promise higher validity, these European studies are most appropriate for the purpose of stocktaking. What s in it? Data evidence Engagement shares of Europeans above 50 years: exact measurement hardly feasible, but statistical evidence shows a tendency towards approx. 40 %: 36,1 % (according to SHARE) and 45,12 % (according to EVS). EVS says that 23,79% belong to and perform unpaid work for at least one voluntary organisation. 21,33% belong to at least one voluntary organisation, but do not perform unpaid work. Dependency on age? The older they become the more likely Europeans engage in church-related or serving-elderly organisations (EVS). the less likely they participate in professional associations, labour unions and political parties (EVS). the less they engage (SHARE). Institutional context matters? Nordic countries; the Netherlands: high engagement ratios throughout all age classes. Former socialist as well as most mediterranean countries:lower engagement compared with the European mean (same effect reported by SHARE). Socio-democratic welfare states:increased voluntary activity for people in the early stage of retirement (Esping- Andersen; 65-79y, SHARE). Individual context matters? Forms of volunteering cause individually different allocations of time resources, volunteering intensity and motivation (SHARE). A rolling stone gathers no moss: working elderly are more active in volunteering (EVS). Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 2

3 Methodological Preface EVS SHARE Survey purpose Large-scale, cross-national, and longitudinal survey research programme on basic human values. Covers ideas, beliefs, preferences, attitudes, values and opinions of citizens in the realms of life, family, work, religion, politics and society all over Europe. Multidisciplinary and cross-national panel database of micro data on health, socioeconomic status and social and family networks. Survey date Wave 4: Release 2: Data coverage Europe: 33 countries Europe: 14 countries Sample size N N of people above 50: N of people above 50: Operational categories: (how is volunteering measured)? Volunteering in terms of membership and unpaid work Volunteering in terms of field, type, intensity, frequency and motivation Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 3

4 Findings of Empirical Volunteering Research Sources: top left: TNS Opinion for the European Commission Eurobarometer 66.3 (2008) Top right: Johns Hopkins Project 1995 Bottom: ESS 2002/3 Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 4

5 45,12% of older People in Europe are engaged Distribution by Degree of Engagement, Aged 50+ Breakdown Chart: 23,79 % 61,9 Age ,91 % of those: 21,33 % 34,9 Age Active membership No membership Inactive membership Operationalization: Active membership (belong and unpaid work for at least one voluntary organisation) Inactive membership (belong but no unpaid work for at least one voluntary organization) 3,2 Age 80+ Distribution of those engagement older people by age class Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 5

6 Europe a membership ratio landmap > 75 % membership in voluntary organizations % membership in voluntary organizations % membership in voluntary organizations < 25 % membership in voluntary organizations Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 6

7 A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss ,12 %: Overall mean of volunteering Full time Self employed Part time Other Unemployed Retired Housew ife Aged Aged Older than 80 higher engagement less engagement Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 7

8 To what organisations do people 50+ belong? Where do people 50+ volunteer? Aged Aged Older than 80 Belong to social welfare service for elderly Belong to labour unions Belong to sports or recreation Belong to education, arts, music or cultural activities Belong to other groups Belong to political parties Belong to conservation, the environment, ecology, animal... Belong to professional associations Belong to organization concerned with health Belong to women s group Belong to local political actions Belong to human rights Belong to youth work Belong to peace movement Belong to religious organization Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 8

9 Where do people 50+ perform unpaid work? Where do people 50+ volunteer? Aged Aged Older than 80 Unpaid work social welfare service for elderly, han... Unpaid work other groups Unpaid work sports or recreation Unpaid work education, arts, music or cultural activities Unpaid work organization concerned with health Unpaid work local political action groups Unpaid work political parties or groups Unpaid work women s group Unpaid work environment, conservation, animal rights Unpaid work youth work Unpaid work labour unions Unpaid work human rights Unpaid work professional associations Unpaid work peace movement Unpaid work religious or church organization Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 9

10 Nordics and the Netherlands ahead in volunteering people aged 50+ Voluntary Engagement, Age 50+ Iceland Sweden Netherlands Denmark Finland Slovakia Austria Belgium Czech Republic Luxembourg Greece Ireland Slovenia Northern Ireland Europe Germany Malta Great Britain France Italy Croatia Hungary Estonia Belarus Ukraine Spain Latvia Poland Portugal Russian Federation Bulgaria Lithuania Romania Turkey Active membership (belong and unpaid work for at least one voluntary organisation) Inactive membership (belong but no unpaid work for at least one voluntary organization) Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 10

11 Voluntary Engagement of People between 50 and 64 across Europe Voluntary Engagement, Age Sw eden Iceland Netherlands Denmark Finland Slovakia Austria Belgium Czech Republic Ireland Luxembourg Greece Northern Ireland Slovenia Gesamt Europe Malta France Great Britain Belarus Italy Croatia Ukraine Hungary Spain Poland Latvia Estonia Russian Federation Portugal Bulgaria Romania Lithuania Turkey Active membership (belong and unpaid work for at least one voluntary organisation) Inactive membership (belong but no unpaid work for at least one voluntary organization) Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 11

12 Voluntary Engagement of People between 65 and 79 across Europe Voluntary Engagement, Age Netherlands Iceland Sweden Finland Denmark Slovakia Luxembour Belgium Czech Greece Austria Ireland Northern Slovenia Malta Germany Europe Italy France Great Britain Estonia Hungary Spain Croatia Latvia Lithuania Ukraine Portugal Turkey Belarus Poland Bulgaria Russian Romania Active membership (belong and unpaid work for at least one voluntary organisation) Inactive membership (belong but no unpaid work for at least one voluntary organization) Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 12

13 Voluntary Engagement of People older than 80 across Europe Voluntary Engagement, Age 80+ Netherlands Ireland Belgium Northern Ireland Great Britain Germany Active membership (belong and unpaid work for at least one voluntary organisation) Inactive membership (belong but no unpaid work for at least one voluntary organization) Poland Malta Hungary Spain Portugal France Russian Federation Romania Source: European Values Survey, Wave 4 ( ), Countries missing have less than 20 respondants in group Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 13

14 European Volunteering: a Broad Understanding in a Detailled View Shares of engaged people per age group, regarding the question whether they performed an activity during the last month in the realm of (N=32470) Share of people in age classes performing at least one of those voluntary activities: ,2 % 35,3 % 20,0 % 0 performing voluntary or charity work taking part in religios organization taking part in a political or community organisation provision of help for family, friends or neigbors caring for sick or disabled people formal volunteering informal volunteering Source: Share Wave 2 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 14

15 Europe: Only explicit voluntary or charitable activity during last month Netherlands Denmark Sweden Switzerland Belgium France Germany Austria Italy Overall Czechia Spain Greece Poland Source: Share Wave 2 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 15

16 How often people in Europe volunteer for different activities formal volunteering voluntary or charity work taken part in religios organisation taken part in a political or community organisation daily almost every week less often provided help for family, friends or neighbors cared for sick or disabled adult informal volunteering Source: Share Wave 2 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 16

17 Why do people engage in voluntary or charitable work? Almost daily Almost every week Less often to contribute something useful because I am needed to meet other people to use my skills or to keep fit to earn money Altruistic motivation egoistic motivation Source: Share Wave 2 ( ) Centrum für soziale Investitionen Dr. Volker Then 17