Telephone helplines offer a valued service for those in distress. However, little research has explored the experience of helpline volunteers. Through semi-structured interviews, we explore the volunteering experiences of nine long-term UK Samaritan volunteers. Interviews were analysed using Interpretive Interactionism. The analysis highlighted that volunteering impacted participants’ experience of their sense of self. The decision to volunteer was framed as part of a search for personal meaning, tied to experiences of loss and reparation. Participants reflected positively on their volunteer identity, but highlighted tensions between a sense of vocation and the experience of care burden. The Samaritan Community also offered a sense of belonging and social support. They experienced involvement as personally meaningful, enabling the construction of a positive self-identity.

(2020). A qualitative study exploring the experience and motivations of UK Samaritan volunteers: “Why do we do it?” [journal article - articolo]. In BRITISH JOURNAL OF GUIDANCE & COUNSELLING. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/174739

A qualitative study exploring the experience and motivations of UK Samaritan volunteers: “Why do we do it?”

Fellin, Lisa Chiara
2020-01-01

Abstract

Telephone helplines offer a valued service for those in distress. However, little research has explored the experience of helpline volunteers. Through semi-structured interviews, we explore the volunteering experiences of nine long-term UK Samaritan volunteers. Interviews were analysed using Interpretive Interactionism. The analysis highlighted that volunteering impacted participants’ experience of their sense of self. The decision to volunteer was framed as part of a search for personal meaning, tied to experiences of loss and reparation. Participants reflected positively on their volunteer identity, but highlighted tensions between a sense of vocation and the experience of care burden. The Samaritan Community also offered a sense of belonging and social support. They experienced involvement as personally meaningful, enabling the construction of a positive self-identity.
articolo
2020
Smith, Lucy; Callaghan, Jane E. M.; Fellin, Lisa Chiara
(2020). A qualitative study exploring the experience and motivations of UK Samaritan volunteers: “Why do we do it?” [journal article - articolo]. In BRITISH JOURNAL OF GUIDANCE & COUNSELLING. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/174739
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10446/174739
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