Examining the Relationship Between Motivation, Enduring Involvement and Volunteer Experience: The Case of Outdoor Recreation Voluntary Associations

abstract

• Voluntary associations representing numerous types of recreation users and environmental issues have recently flourished. However, the literature has not sufficiently studied these associations and their members' experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of enduring involvement as mediator and moderator on the relationship between membership motivation and volunteer experience of outdoor recreation voluntary associations (ORVAs). Data were collected from an on-line survey of members of three ORVAs in Texas (n = 315). Six distinct dimensions of membership motivation and three dimensions of involvement were identified. Results indicated that enduring involvement fully mediated the relationship between membership motivation and volunteer experience. Members that are motivated to join ORVAs for social networking, civic engagement, and self-enhancement reasons had more volunteer experience through enhanced enduring involvement levels. The moderator effect of enduring involvement was also significant. The association between membership motivation and volunteer experience was stronger as involvement level increased. 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

authors

• Schuett, Michael

published proceedings

• LEISURE SCIENCES

author list (cited authors)

• Lu, J., & Schuett, M. A.

citation count

• 19

complete list of authors

• Lu, Jiaying||Schuett, Michael A

publication date

• January 2014

publisher

• Taylor & Francis  Publisher

published in

• Leisure Sciences  Journal

keywords

• Enduring Involvement
• Membership Motivations
• Outdoor Recreation
• Voluntary Associations
• Volunteer Experience

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1080/01490400.2014.860791

start page

• 68

end page

• 87

volume

• 36

issue

• 1

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2014.860791