Helping hands: Volunteering has health benefits. How to give back in Centre County

Does volunteering have anything to do with your lifespan? The answer may be yes!

There actually is broad scientific support for link between volunteerism and how long you may live. Multiple long-term studies have found that people who volunteer regularly often have:

• Lower rates of depression,
• Stronger social connections,
• More physical activity,
• Lower stress,
• And in some studies, lower mortality rates.

There’s evidence that residents of Centre County do live longer on average than residents of other Pennsylvania counties — and local leaders and researchers believe volunteerism may be one contributing factor.

According to Centre County officials, the county’s average life expectancy is about 82.1 years, reportedly the highest in Pennsylvania and roughly 4.5 years above neighboring counties.

County commissioners specifically pointed to the following as possible reasons residents live longer:

• High volunteer participation,
• Strong community engagement,
• Penn State’s influence,
• Outdoor recreation,
• Education levels,
• And local social services

Centre County has unusually strong volunteer infrastructure for a county its size, and Volunteer Centre County helps by providing a one-stop platform (website and app) to learn about ways to volunteer and give back to over 140 local charities.

All this being said, researchers would be careful not to say volunteers cause longer life in Centre County because other factors could also affect longevity, such as:

• A very highly educated population,
• Relatively good healthcare access,
• Lower smoking rates,
• A large university employer,
• Extensive parks and trails,
• And a population that tends to be physically active.

So the most accurate answer is:

Centre County residents do appear to live longer on average than residents of other Pennsylvania counties, and volunteerism is likely one meaningful factor among several interconnected community-health advantages.

Check out Volunteer Centre County and learn about the volunteer opportunities, needs for donated goods, nonprofit events, and even nonprofit paid jobs posted by our Community Partners! Giving back could be better than you thought!

Ann Echols is the executive Director of Volunteer Centre County.