The Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem in the Relationship Between Late-Life Volunteering, Depressive Symptoms, and Subjective Well-Being: A Longitudinal Analysis Using a Sequential Process Latent Growth Model

Background: This study examined the longitudinal relationship between late-life volunteering, depressive symptoms, and subjective well-being, with a focus on the mediating effect of self-esteem.Methods: Data were drawn from the 12th to 18th waves (2017∼2023) of the Korean Welfare Panel Study, including 4,954 individuals aged 65 and older at wave 12. A sequential process latent growth model was employed to examine trajectories of self-esteem (waves 13∼15), depressive symptoms, and subjective well-being (both measured at waves 16∼18), as well as their associations over time. The relationship between volunteering, depressive symptoms, and subjective well-being was analyzed while controlling for sex, income and education. Bootstrapping procedure was employed to test the mediating effect of self-esteem.Results: Self-esteem and depressive symptoms showed a steady decreasing over time, whereas, subjective well-being tended to increase. Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers demonstrated higher initial levels of self-esteem, which were associated with lower subsequent levels and slower declines in depressive symptoms, as well as higher subsequent levels and slower increases in subjective well-being.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that self-esteem plays a key mediating role between volunteering and mental health outcomes in older adults. Specifically, volunteering was found to enhance self-esteem, which helps reduce depressive symptoms and improve subjective well-being. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at promoting social participation, such as volunteering, and strengthening self-esteem may be effective strategies for enhancing mental health in later life.