Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Self-Efficacy And Depression In Older Adults: Differences Between Volunteers And Non-Volunteers, Anita Govindan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Volunteering has been found to play an important role in the lives of older adults. The general beneficial effects of volunteering have been widely established. However an investigation on the specific effect volunteering can have on older adults' perceptions of their abilities has yet to be established. It is important to investigate whether volunteering in later life is positively associated with one's perception of oneself or one's self-efficacy. Individuals with high levels of self-efficacy tend to believe they are more capable of handling stressful situations and are less likely to feel helpless and dependent and thus feel more confident of …