Volunteering has been
found to be a significant predictor of improved health among the general
population. Yet, little is known about the relationship between volunteering
and perceived general health among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI).
Using data on 1,127 participants obtained from the 2014 California Health
Interview Survey (CHIS) this study examined the extent to which volunteering is
associated with perceived general health of individuals with SMI.
Study
findings indicate that individuals who engage in volunteering are more likely
to report better health status when compared to those who do not engage in
volunteering.