Motivations for Volunteering in Hospitals: A Case Study of Teenage Volunteers

Abstract

               This research aimed to examine the motivation of adolescents who volunteer in hospitals, using the Functional Approach to Volunteer Motivation as the analytical framework. The participants were 14 volunteers aged 16-24 who had volunteered in hospitals under the coordination of the Buddhika Network Foundation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that adolescent volunteers’ motivations could be categorized into six dimensions: Values - feeling proud to help others and develop themselves mentally;  Understanding - gaining knowledge about hospital operations and better understanding patients; Social - improving communication skills and the ability to work with others; Career - using volunteer experience to explore potential future career paths; Protective - learning emotional regulation and coping with stressful situations; and Enhancement - becoming more disciplined, responsible, and socially conscious. The study indicates that hospital volunteer activities serve as learning environments that foster life skills and civic participation. They also provide valuable insights for developing youth education and development policies.