The role of motivational systems in community service involvement : initiating and sustaining factors and quality of experience /
Abstract
Community service participation can have a positive impact on development,
especially for youth. Although researchers have found positive outcomes, there has been
a notable decline in youth participation over the past few years (Statistics Canada, 2000).
Given the positive outcomes and current decline, it has been argued that youth should be
encouraged to get involved in service activities. In the present study, quantitative and
qualitative data were collected to determine factors that would help youth to initiate and
sustain service, along with examining the quality of their experience. Eighty-two
university undergraduate students (23 men), ranging in age from 17-20 years completed a
60-minute self-report questionnaire. Initiating and sustaining factors, motivational
systems (similar to approach and avoidance dimensions), activity dimensions {Structure,
Supportive Social Environment), quality of experience {Positive, Stress-Challenge), and
future intention to participate in community service were measured. Eight participants
also completed a 20-minute telephone interview to complement and expand on the
quantitative data collected.
Some initiating and sustaining factors were specific to individuals higher on the
avoidance dimension, while others were relevant to those higher on the approach
dimension. Several factors also were important to individuals regardless of their
motivational system orientation. Positive quality of experience was related positively to
experiencing a supportive social environment. In addition, women rated their community
service as more positive than did men. A predicted interaction between the avoidance
dimension and Structure in predicting positive quality of experience was not supported;
however, positive quality of experience was predicted by the interaction of the approach
dimension and Structure. A tested interaction between the avoidance dimension and
Supportive Social Environment in predicting positive quality of experience was not
supported. Similarly, a predicted interaction between the approach dimension and
Supportive Social Environment in predicting positive experience quality was not
supported. However, Supportive Social Environment was positively related to positive
quality of experience. No support was found for a mediational role for positive quality of
experience or stress-challenge quality of experience in exploring the relation between
motivational orientation and fiiture intention to engage in service activities.
The results of this study suggest that participating in a service environment that is
supportive and provides the opportunity for social interactions with others would promote
positive quality of experience and help youth sustain involvement. Thus, to help youth
have positive experiences and to remain active in service, it is important for service
agencies to promote these types of environments. In addition, some initiating and
sustaining factors were specific to youth higher on the avoidance dimension and some
were relevant to youth higher on the approach dimension. Therefore, service agencies
may need to consider using different recruitment and retention strategies, depending on
the type of youth they wish to recruit.