- 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
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Dapin Cho, DongHee Jeong, Eun-Jung Shim
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STRESS. 2025;33(2):53-62. Published online June 30, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17547/kjsr.2025.33.2.53
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 Abstract
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- 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.
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