Factors Affecting Subjective Quality of Life of Hospice Volunteers

Roh, Seung Hyun; Lim, Seung Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study tested a model of hospice volunteer's motivations and outcomes to encourage more volunteer workers to participate in hospice care.
METHODS
This included 200 volunteers who attended the Autumn Conference in 2007 and 132 volunteers from five hospice organizations.
RESULTS
Volunteers' existential well-being affected an endogenous variable of volunteers' participation in volunteer activities. The durability of volunteer activity was affected by value motivation, the level of participation in volunteer activities and the level of job satisfaction. For volunteers' job satisfaction level, valid endogenous variables included existential well-being, social motivation, understanding motivation and value motivation. The durability of volunteer activities was indirectly affected through three different paths. Volunteers' existential well-being determined the level of their participation in volunteer activities, which in turn affected the durability of such activities. Social motivation influenced volunteers' job satisfaction, and then the durability of volunteer activities. Volunteers' understanding of motivation also influenced their job satisfaction, and then the durability of volunteer activities.
CONCLUSION
Based on these results, this study proposes that the durability of volunteers activities could be improved by developing a program to improve volunteers' well-being and by providing volunteers with education on altruistic values, encouraging them to seek intellectual growth, and advocating them to continue volunteer activities based on close relationships with other volunteers.