Socialization and Volunteer Work: The Role of Parents and College Volunteering

Abstract

This study investigated the role of socialization in volunteer work participation following college graduation. The sample consisted of 424 baccalaureate graduates of a large midwestern university. The dependent variable was whether the respond ent had participated in volunteer work during the past year. Multiple regression results showed that socialization for volunteer work occurs both in the family and in volunteer work itself Parents' volunteering is "two-edged" with the father's par ticipation a positive influence on respondent's volunteer work participation and the mother's participation a negative influence. Implications for changing sex roles in volunteer work are discussed.