Presentation Schedule
Asian Ethnic Group Differences in Formal and Informal Volunteerism Among Adults Aged 50 and over in the United States (105404)
Session Chair: Patrick Ho Lam Lai
This presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom (Online Access)
Friday, 27 March 2026 14:40
Session: Session 2
Room: Live-Stream Room 2
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
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Volunteerism in mid- and later life supports their individual health and well-being, while also promoting social cohesion, yet disparities persist across ethnoracial groups in the United States, with Asian Americans often underrepresented or treated as a combined category as "others." This study addresses heterogeneity among Asians in their formal and informal volunteerism in midlife and later life. Pooled data from the Civic Engagement and Volunteering Supplement of the Current Population Survey (2017, 2019, 2021) were used. The analytic sample included 9,607 adults aged 50-75 who identified as six Asian subgroups: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, and Vietnamese. Logistic regression models assessed subgroup differences and interaction effects between socio-economic resources and ethnic identity, controlling for demographic and health factors. Significant variation emerged across subgroups. Japanese (OR = 1.622, p<.01), Koreans (OR = 1.760, p<.01), and Vietnamese (OR = 1.675, p<.01) were more likely to engage in formal volunteering than Chinese, who had the lowest rates. Filipinos (OR = 1.426, p<.01) showed higher levels of informal volunteerism. Education had a weaker positive effect on formal volunteering for Koreans, Vietnamese, and other subgroups, while income had a stronger effect for Filipinos and others, compared to the Chinese. Interaction effects for informal volunteerism were limited. Findings highlight the need to explore heterogeneity across Asian subgroups and to develop culturally responsive strategies to address barriers and promote volunteer opportunities for diverse midlife and older adults in the U.S.
Authors:
Patrick Ho Lam Lai, University of Oklahoma, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Patrick Ho Lam Lai is an Assistant Professor at the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma in the United States.
Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickholamlai/
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