TEAS 7 Integration of Knowledge & Ideas: review and practice questions

Volunteering and Health

It is well known that volunteering helps communities. A growing body of research suggests it may also help the volunteers themselves. In a large study of adults over 50, those who volunteered at least 200 hours a year were less likely to develop high blood pressure over four years than non-volunteers. Other studies have linked volunteering to lower rates of depression and greater life satisfaction. Researchers propose several explanations. Volunteering often involves physical activity, which benefits the heart. It also builds social connections, which protect against loneliness, a known health risk. Finally, helping others may give people a sense of purpose. Still, the studies are largely observational, meaning researchers watched what people did rather than assigning them to volunteer. It is possible that healthier people are simply more likely to volunteer in the first place. Further research using controlled designs will be needed to confirm a cause-and-effect relationship.

Table: Recommended Daily Water Intake

Estimated total daily water needs (from all beverages and foods), by age group: Children 4–8 years: 1.7 liters Boys 9–13 years: 2.4 liters | Girls 9–13 years: 2.1 liters Men 19+ years: 3.7 liters | Women 19+ years: 2.7 liters Pregnant women: 3.0 liters | Breastfeeding women: 3.8 liters Note: About 20 percent of daily water intake usually comes from food. Needs increase with hot weather, physical activity and illness involving fever, vomiting or diarrhea.