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Predicting Responses to Volunteering among Adolescents in Israel: The Contribution of Personal and Situational Variables

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Abstract

The study examined positive and negative responses to volunteering (satisfaction with volunteering, perceived contribution to beneficiaries, and burnout) among 102 adolescents in Israel. The conceptual framework for explaining those responses was the ecological approach to the study of human development. In that context, the paper deals with the combined contribution of two ecological systems—the ontogenic system and the microsystem. The ontogenic system included sociodemographic variables (gender and religiosity), as well as empowerment resources. The microsystem included variables related to family context (parental volunteer activity and family support for volunteering), as well as to the context of volunteer activity (perceived rewards, difficulties with volunteering, and professional supervision). Sociodemographic variables and difficulties in relations with the provider organization predicted burnout, whereas rewards and professional supervision predicted satisfaction with volunteering. Empowerment contributed most to explaining volunteers’ perceived contribution to the beneficiaries of services.

Résumé

Cette étude a examiné les réponses positives et négatives du bénévolat (satisfaction du bénévolat, contribution perçue par les bénéficiaires et effet d’usure) parmi 102 adolescents en Israël. Le cadre conceptuel permettant d’expliquer ces réponses a été l’approche écologique à l’étude du développement humain. Dans ce contexte, l’étude traite de la contribution combinée de deux systèmes écologiques - le système ontogénique et le microsystème. Le système ontogénique inclut les variables socio-démographiques (genre et religion), ainsi que les ressources en initiatives. Le micro-système incluait des variables liées au contexte familial (l’activité de bénévolat parental et le support familial pour le bénévolat), ainsi que le contexte de l’activité de bénévolat (les résultats positifs perçus, les difficultés liées au bénévolat et la supervision professionnelle). Les variables socio-démographiques et les difficultés en relation avec l’organisation prédit l’effet d’usure, tandis que les résultats positifs et la supervision professionnelle prédit la satisfaction du bénévolat. L’initiative a contribué le plus pour expliquer la contribution perçue par les bénévoles aux bénéficiaires des services.

Zusammenfassung

In dieser Studie wurden positive und negative Reaktionen hinsichtlich gemeinnütziger Arbeit (Zufriedenheit mit gemeinnütziger Arbeit, empfundener Beitrag für die Dienstleistungsempfänger und Ausgebranntheit) unter 102 Jugendlichen in Israel untersucht. Diese Reaktionen wurden vor dem Hintergrund des ökologischen Ansatzes in den Studien der menschlichen Entwicklung erläutert. In diesem Zusammenhang geht die Abhandlung auf das Zusammenwirken zweier ökologischer Systeme ein – das ontogenetische System und das Mikrosystem. Das ontogenetische System schloss soziodemographische Variablen (Geschlecht und Religiösität) sowie Autorisierungsressourcen ein. Das Mikrosystem ging auf Variablen im Zusammenhang mit dem familiären Hintergrund (ehrenamtliche Tätigkeiten vonseiten der Eltern und familiäre Unterstützung der ehrenamtlichen Tätigkeit) sowie Variablen im Zusammenhang mit der gemeinnützigen Arbeit (empfundene Anerkennung, Schwierigkeiten bei der gemeinnützigen Arbeit und professionelle Leitung) ein. Soziodemographische Variablen und Schwierigkeiten mit der Organisation prognostizierten Ausgebranntheit, während Anerkennung und professionelle Leitung Zufriedenheit mit der gemeinnützigen Arbeit prognostizierten. Der Grad der Entscheidungsbefugnis hatte die größte Auswirkung auf den von den ehrenamtlich Tätigen empfundenen Beitrag für die Empfänger ihrer Dienstleistungen.

Resumen

El estudio examinaba las respuestas positivas y negativas (satisfacción, aportación percibida por los beneficiarios y desgaste) que, ante el voluntariado ofrecían 102 adolescentes israelitas. El marco conceptual para justificar estas respuestas es el enfoque ecológico en el estudio del desarrollo humano. En este contexto, el trabajo trata de las influencias combinadas de dos sistemas ecológicos: el sistema ontogénico y el microsistema. El sistema ontogénico incluía variables sociodemográficas (sexo y creencias religiosas), así como recursos de atribuciones de poder. El microsistema incluía variables relacionadas con el ámbito familiar (actividad voluntaria de los progenitores y apoyo de la familia al voluntariado), así como el contexto de la actividad voluntaria (recompensas obtenidas, dificultades del voluntariado y supervisión profesional). Las variables sociodemográficas y las dificultades en las relaciones con la organización proveedora causaban cierto desgaste, mientras que las recompensas y la supervisión profesional provocaban satisfacción con el voluntariado. La atribución de poderes fue el factor que más contribuyó a explicar la aportación de los voluntarios a los beneficiarios de los servicios.

摘要

这项研究考察了102名以色列未成年人对于志愿服务(对志愿服务的满意情绪、感知到的对受益人的贡献,及疲劳情绪) 的积极和消极回应。用于解释这些反馈的概念框架是人类发展研究的社会生态学方法。因此,这篇论文探讨了两种社会生态系统(个体系统和微观系统)的综合贡献。个体系统包括社会人口统计学因素(性别和宗教),以及授权资源。微观系统包括与家庭有关的因素(父母的志愿服务行为和家庭对志愿服务的支持),以及与志愿者活动有关的因素(感知到的奖励、志愿服务的困难和专业监督)。与提供者组织有关的社会人口统计学因素和困难会引发疲劳情绪,而奖励和专业监督则可以引发对志愿服务的满意情绪。授权最有助于阐明志愿者感知到的对服务受益者的贡献。

ملخص

الدراسه إختبرت الردود الإيجابيه و السلبيه للتطوع ( الرضا بالتطوع ، رؤيه مساهمه المستفيدين ، و الإرهاق) بين ??? مراهق في إسرائيل . مفاهيم إطار العمل لشرح هذه الردود كان التقرب البيئي لدراسه التنميه البشريه . في هذا السياق ، هذه المقاله تتعامل مع دمج لنظامين بيئيين – نظام Ontogenic و ميكروسيستم Microsystem .

نظام Ontogenic يتضمن تغييرات إجتماعيه ( الجنس و التقوى المبالغه )، و كذلك تمكين الموارد . ميكروسيستمmicrosystem تتضمن متغيرات لها علاقه بالأسره ( نشاط الا?باء المتطوعين ودعم الأسره للتطوع )، كذلك سياق لنشاط التطوع ( إعتبار الجوائز ، مشاكل في التطوع ، الإشراف المهني ) . التغييرات الإجتماعيه و المشاكل في العلاقات مع المنظمه الممونه يؤدي إلى التنبؤ بالإرهاق ، بينما الجوائز و الإشراف المهني يؤدي إلى التنبؤ بالرضا بالتطوع . التمكين أسهم في شرح مساهمه رؤيه المتطوعين للمستفيدين من الخدمات .

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    Liat Kulik

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Kulik, L. Predicting Responses to Volunteering among Adolescents in Israel: The Contribution of Personal and Situational Variables. Voluntas 18, 35–54 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-007-9028-6

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