Kerklidmaatschap en participatie in vrijwilligerswerk: een kwestie van psychologische dispositie of sociale organisatie?

Samenvatting

Do active church members participate in voluntary organizations more often than nonreligious people because they are socialized to altruism, or because people in their social networks motivate them? An empirical test (N = 627 inhabitants of Groningen, the Netherlands) rules out the socialization explanation. While the size of the social network and strength of the ties are not found to explain the relation, the number of volunteers within the social network reduces the initial relationship to nonsignificance. Church members have more contact with volunteers, which makes it difficult to refuse if asked and motivates continuing participation. Thus, the church is a meeting place for volunteers and serves as a recruitment pool. 12 Tables, 23 References. Adapted from the source document.