Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: Psychological empowerment has been thoroughly studied in the workplace context. Volunteerism has also been thoroughly studied through a multitude of different facets. However, little research could be found bridging the empowerment construct into volunteerism. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experience of empowerment among volunteers. Volunteer empowerment was discovered through four primary themes, make a difference, rewarding, lifestyle of service, and passion, and three secondary themes, autonomy, awareness, and ability. Other relevant findings included and revolved around volunteer time and balance, challenges, propelling forces, and getting started. Current literature was reviewed and incorporated into the findings of this study. Themes were integrated into a visual display – the empowerment wheel – which shows the experience and scope of volunteer empowerment found in this study. Implications for literature and for practitioners were discussed. Future research directions from this study are vast and were included as part of this study.
Source: Lincoln (University of Nebraska)
Author: Adam K Peters
Institution: University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2163643359