Factors Influencing Volunteers' Helping Behavior: The Case of Red Cross Society Youth Volunteers of Addis Ababa

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Date

2007-07

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

This study investigated: (a) the significance of difference between volunteers and nonvolunteers on parental modeling, prosocial moral reasoning, awareness of consequences and personal norm (independent variables), (b) the relationship between three forms of helping (i.e. volunteering, blood donation and money donation) and parental modeling, seif reward, prosocial moral reasoning, awareness of consequences and personal norm ,and (c) predictability by each significant independent for volunteering, blood donation and money donation, while controlling family education and family income. An Ex post facto study design was employed to address the above objectives. Respondents were selected Fom two populations i.e. volunteers and non-volunteers. From Red Cross SocietyI70 volUnleer and 72 non-volunteer respondents were assessed on the study variables. A questionnaire which consisted of four parts was used as an instrument consisting 8 hypothetical story dilemmas to measure prosocial moral reasoning. It also consisted of two scales that measure awareness of consequences and personal norm. Frequencies, independent t-test, correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used for data analysis. Findings indicated significant differences between volunteers and nonvolunleers on all independent variables. Significant correlations were .found between dependent variables (volunteering, blood donation, and money donation) and self reward, prosocial moral reasoning and personal norm. No significant correlation was found between three forms of helping and parental modeling. It was also found that self reward (the ability o.f volunteers to regulate their behavior without external motivators) had a strong predictable value (71.6% variance) for the act of blood donation and (71. 4% variance/for the act of money donation behaviors. Personal norm was also found as significant predictor of volunteering and blood donation. Parental modeling, prosocial moral reasoning, awareness of consequences, family income, and/i:/mily education had no predictive value/or the volunteering, blood donation and money donation behavior of the Red Cross Society volunteers.

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Influencing Volunteers' Helping Behavior

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