The multidimensional benefits of university student volunteering: Psychological contract, expectations, and outcomes

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly

Publisher

Sage Publications

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

28916

Funders

Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching.

Comments

Haski-Leventhal, D., Paull, M., Young, S., MacCallum, J., Holmes, K., Omari, M., ... & Alony, I. (2020). The multidimensional benefits of university student volunteering: Psychological contract, expectations, and outcomes. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 49(1), 113-133. https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764019863108

Abstract

Student volunteering has many benefits for students, universities, and nonprofit organizations (NPOs), but research on these from a multistakeholder perspective is scant. Using psychological contract theory, this article compares outcomes to expectations of students, universities, and NPOs, proposing a model of the benefits of volunteering to all three stakeholder groups. Based on a large-scale qualitative research with over 60 interviews in six Australian universities, the article offers an in-depth analysis of student volunteering benefits, surprises (benefits exceeding expectations), and disappointments (unmet expectations) for each stakeholder group. Some of these benefits align with existing literature, while others contribute new knowledge on the outcomes of student volunteering. The results show that training, preparation, and management of expectations have the potential to build positive benefits for all. It concludes with implications for universities and NPOs and directions for future research on student volunteering.

DOI

10.1177/0899764019863108

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