Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Conditions
Keywords
volunteering, cardiovascular health
Brief summary
This study tested whether getting youth engaged in helping others (volunteering) would benefit youth's physical health. 106 predominantly minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) youth were randomized to either volunteer weekly with elementary school children in after school programs or to a wait-list control group. The investigators hypothesized that cardiovascular risk markers of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) would be lower at post-intervention (4 months after baseline) in the volunteer group compared to the control group. The investigators also hypothesized that the intervention might work through pathways such as reducing negative mood, improving self esteem, and increasing prosocial behaviors (empathy, altruism).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALVolunteering
Weekly volunteering with elementary school children in after school programs
Sponsors
William T. Grant Foundation
HopeLab Foundation
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
University of British Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* 10th grade high school student * English speaking * No chronic illnesses
Exclusion criteria
* Chronic medical illness
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Body mass index | Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months |
| C-reactive protein | Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months |
| Interleukin-6 | Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months |
| Total Cholesterol | Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed