Impact of Pandemic Shocks on Participation in Voluntary Organizations Among Older Adults in Nine Countries

Social engagement, including participation in voluntary organizations, is vital for healthy aging. This study investigated the impact of the global pandemic on the participation of older adults aged 60 years and above in 10 types of voluntary organizations. Utilizing detailed COVID-19 data from the World Health Organization and the Integrated Values Surveys across 9 countries that collected data on voluntary organization participation before and during the pandemic, this study employed Difference-in-Difference models to estimate the pandemic's effect on the likelihood of older adults participating in voluntary services. The findings revealed a significant reduction in the likelihood (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.46 ~ 0.65) and average number (β = -0.81, 95% CI: -0.98 ~ -0.64; IRR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.67 ~ 0.78) of voluntary organizations older adults participated in. These effects persisted across age and gender groups as well as various types of voluntary organizations. The study underscores the importance of addressing the pandemic's adverse impact on older adults' social participation in order to promote the active and healthy aging of the population.