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Systematic Review
The authors state:
The review sought to anwer the research question: 'How are space or place, intangible assets and volunteering conceptualised in the reported qualitative research findings on participatory arts and sport/physical activity for enhancing wellbeing and alleviating loneliness across the adult life course (16+ years)?'
The authors state:
"Twenty-seven qualitative studies included in this review focus on understanding the connection between volunteering and wellbeing and/or loneliness in participatory arts, sport or physical activity. Three key thematic areas and their findings have been identified in relation to the wellbeing benefits of volunteering in participatory arts and sport/physical activity: (i) processes of giving and sharing skills, expertise and experience in relationships which may be altruistic and characterised by mutual benefit; (ii) the creation of places/spaces of security and trust which may also be free from harassment and stigma; and (iii) providing opportunities for personal skill development, including creative, organisational, social and leadership skills that may also have career and employment relevance.
We have moderate confidence that volunteering in participatory arts or sport/physical activity can enhance wellbeing and/or alleviate loneliness through processes of giving and sharing expertise, skills and experiences, creating social spaces that feel secure and help to build trust and/or providing opportunities for personal skill development. Most published studies obtained appropriate ethics approval although this was not always reported extensively. Methodological weaknesses of these studies include: a lack of exact details about the researcher’s role, potential bias and influence on sample recruitment, settings and participant responses; and a lack of data analysis and rigorous theorisation of findings. The grey literature was of mixed quality. Moderate quality (credibility) reports (n=10) provided appropriate descriptions of data-collection procedures, some detailed data analysis and theoretical implications. High quality (credibility) reports (n=4) provided detailed information, critical reflection on the methods and analysis and included theoretical implications of the findings. Low quality (credibility) reports (n=5) provided little detail on data-collection procedures and data analysis, with insufficient reporting of participant details and inadequate theoretical implications being drawn."
The authors state:
"The evidence in this review shows that volunteering in participatory arts and sport/physical activity can enhance wellbeing and may alleviate loneliness (for volunteers and those they help) through processes of giving and sharing expertise, skills and experience, creating places of security and trust and providing opportunities for personal skill development. This means that volunteering has an important role to play in culture and sport policy and practice seeking to promote wellbeing and alleviate loneliness through volunteering.
The evidence also shows that volunteering in participatory arts and sport/physical activity can create negative wellbeing experiences if there is a lack of support and training for volunteers, when workloads become burdensome, if volunteers do not feel they belong and if those being helped feel the volunteers are strangers."