Religion and Volunteerism: The Effects of Religious Service Attendance and Affiliation on Frequency of Volunteerism

• In Event: 262 - Section on Sociology of Religion Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 10. Social Trust and Well-Being

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of frequency of religious service attendance on frequency of volunteerism across religious affiliations. Appropriating data from the General Social Survey (GSS), we use partial proportional odds modeling to consider potential non-linear effects of religious affiliation and service attendance on frequency of volunteering, as well as interaction terms for affiliation and attendance. In line with previous research, we find increases in respondent’s religious service attendance predicts higher odds of volunteerism, across all frequencies of volunteering. In contrast to previous research, we find that the predicted effects of religious affiliations on the odds of volunteering vary depending on the frequency of volunteering considered and by frequency of religious service attendance. Sectarian Protestants have lower odds of volunteering compared to liberal Protestants and the religiously unaffiliated, across all frequencies of volunteering. In contrast, moderate Protestants have higher odds of volunteering in general, compared to sectarian Protestants, however statistical differences are attenuated at higher frequencies of volunteering. Interaction terms show that religious service attendance affects most affiliations equally, except for Catholics, where the effect of attendance is less than the effect attendance has on sectarian Protestants, and moderate Protestants, where the effect of attendance is less than the effect felt by sectarian Protestants for higher rates of volunteerism.

Authors

• Derek R. Lehman, Southern Illinois University

• Ryan Ceresola, Southern Illinois University