Table 1.
Characteristics of Volunteers and Non-Volunteers (a) and the Voluntary Work of Those Who Do Volunteer (b) (Baseline [Wave 7])
| Volunteering status at baseline (Wave 7) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer (%) | Non-volunteer (%) | |
| (a) Characteristics of volunteers and non-volunteers | ||
| Female | 59.43 | 57.83 |
| Age | ||
| Male mean age | 72.35 | 74.47 |
| Female mean age | 71.35 | 74.07 |
| Ethnicity | ||
| Non-white | 2.67 | 3.16 |
| Marital status | ||
| Married or cohabiting | 71.37 | 62.93 |
| Wealth | ||
| Poorest | 9.53 | 20.40 |
| 2nd | 12.35 | 19.07 |
| Middle | 21.23 | 22.56 |
| 4th | 25.99 | 20.75 |
| Wealthiest | 30.91 | 17.22 |
| Self-reported health | ||
| Excellent | 12.50 | 6.74 |
| Very good | 35.68 | 24.75 |
| Good | 34.40 | 33.1 |
| Fair | 14.39 | 24.96 |
| Poor | 3.03 | 10.44 |
| Participation in other activities | ||
| In paid work | 8.49 | 9.14 |
| Provides care | 18.18 | 9.56 |
| (b) Of those who volunteer | ||
| Does not feel appreciated for volunteering | 8.23 | |
| Volunteers at Waves 7 and 8 | 59.29 | |
| Stops volunteering by Wave 8 | 22.71 | |
| Starts volunteering by Wave 8 | 18.00 | |
| Participates in three or more activities | 71.16 | |
| Participates in formal volunteering | 90.64 | |
| One activity | 19.72 | |
| Two or more activities | 80.28 | |
| Participates in informal volunteering | 56.97 | |
| One activity | 49.89 | |
| Two or more activities | 50.11 | |
| Unweighted base | 1,127 | 2,613 |