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Compulsory Volunteer Experience in Singapore: Personality, Volunteer Motivation, and Continuance Intention to Volunteer

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Abstract

While compulsory volunteering activities have been included in education programs in many countries, it is still unknown how compulsory volunteers’ personal characteristics are related to their motivation and future volunteering behavior. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationships among two personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness), seven factors of volunteer motivation, and intention to continue volunteering in the context of compulsory volunteering. A total of 605 compulsory volunteers for sports events in Singapore provided responses to a survey. Findings showed that the two personality traits were predictors of six motivation factors, including expression of value, community involvement, interpersonal contacts, career orientation, personal growth, and love of sport. In addition, expression of value, community involvement, personal growth, and love of sports positively predicted continuance intention, while extrinsic rewards negatively predicted continuance intention. These findings extend to the existing literature and suggest the importance for volunteer organizations to tailor both the recruitment process and the volunteering experience to promote volunteer motivation and continuance intention.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participants for their participation in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, under its Academic Research Fund (Grant Number RI 8/17 CHT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Education & Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637616, Singapore

    Heetae Cho

  2. Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Mun Yip Kinnard Chen

  3. School of Physical Education & Sports Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 51006, China

    Chunxiao Li

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  1. Heetae Cho
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  2. Mun Yip Kinnard Chen
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Correspondence to Chunxiao Li.

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The first author’s Institutional Review Board granted the ethical approval for the present study. The participants gave their informed consent to participate in the survey. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Cho, H., Chen, M.Y.K. & Li, C. Compulsory Volunteer Experience in Singapore: Personality, Volunteer Motivation, and Continuance Intention to Volunteer. Voluntas 34, 276–288 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-022-00461-y

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