Morális és önérdekű motivációk, érzelmi kimerültség és lemorzsolódás a rendszeres és krízishelyzeti önkéntességben

Abstract

Background and Aims: Volunteering plays a crucial role in strengthening communities and addressing social challenges. However, its long-term sustainability can be influenced and hindered by various factors. The aim of our research was to explore the sustainability of volunteering, with a particular focus on the motivations and barriers that shape volunteers’ commitment.
Methods: We conducted two studies: in Study 1/A we collected data among active (n = 43) and in Study 1/B among former volunteers (n = 27) of NGOs. In Study 2 we examined indi­viduals supporting Ukrainian refugees (N = 2261). Using thematic coding, we identified the motivational patterns and factors influencing volunteer commitment.
Results: Our findings indicate that both moral and self-serving motivations were present in both contexts. However, active and former volunteers were primarily driven by community engagement and altruism, whereas those assisting in the humanitarian crisis were motivated by a sense of urgency and helplessness. The decrease in participation was higher in spontaneous volunteering, while long-term participation was more common among regular volunteers, although maintaining commitment also posed significant challenges. Barriers to the sustain­ability of volunteering, such as emotional exhaustion, time constraints, organizational diffi­culties, and resource shortages, became increasingly pronounced over time in both contexts.
Discussion: Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of volunteering by highlighting how the initial enthusiasm for volunteering evolves over time, especially among those who stop engagement in volunteering activities. To ensure long-term volunteer retention, it is essential to provide adequate organizational support, feedback, and recognition.