Volunteering and Subjective Well-being

This chapter focuses on the virtuous relation between volunteering and subjective well-being (measured as life satisfaction). This chapter reports the results of the Aspects of Daily Life survey and confirms that carrying out voluntary activities has an effect on the propensity to express high scores of satisfaction, regardless of income, education, place of residence, religion, or personal dispositions such as optimism. Volunteering directly or within organized groups and the field of activity are irrelevant to reach the highest level of well-being. Territorial differences emerged, with residents in the northern areas of Italy the most satisfied and those living in the southern areas and the islands the less satisfied. Regardless of the geographical location, the highest proportion of the very satisfied respondents was among those who lived in small municipalities. Overall findings provide empirical support to the hypothesis that doing others good is a way to do oneself good: a virtuous matching that, while generating social and relational capital for society, also generates individuals more in tune with themselves and their life environment.