Volunteerism's Dual Impact: Social and Psychological Benefits for University Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.11753Keywords:
Volunteering, Social Benefits, Psychological Benefits, University Students, UAEAbstract
Objectives: Volunteering offers significant social and psychological benefits; however, its specific impact on university students in the UAE remains underexplored. This study examined these outcomes among students at the University of Sharjah.
Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, using a bilingual (Arabic-English) online questionnaire. A convenience sample of 600 undergraduate and postgraduate students was drawn from a population of approximately 15,000. The instrument included 14 items on social constructs and 10 on psychological constructs. Data were analyzed using SPSS (descriptive statistics, regression, Pearson correlations).
Results: Students reported greater perceived social benefits (M = 3.79), such as improved cooperation, communication, and responsibility, compared to psychological benefits (M = 3.50), which included heightened self-awareness and a sense of belonging. Key findings included a negative association between current volunteering and psychological benefits (B = -1.234, p < .001), and a positive correlation between annual volunteer hours and psychological outcomes (B = 0.290, p = .031).
Conclusions: Volunteering enhances social cohesion and personal responsibility, though role strain during academic terms may reduce its psychological benefits. These findings have implications for university policy and student development. Curriculum-integrated volunteering and flexible micro-volunteering initiatives are recommended to enhance engagement and foster skill development.
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