Motives for College Students’ Participation in Episodic and Organizational Service Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Although the literature shows that organizational participation in service is developmentally beneficial for college students due to the reinforcement of positive behaviors, the literature is less clear on the differences between episodic and organizational participation, especially the motivation to participate. Additionally, there is insufficient research in the area of service participation during a pandemic. This thesis examines (a) relations between motives and volunteering (i.e., episodic and organizational) and (b) whether relations vary by individuals’ adherence to COVID-19 pandemic-related protocols. Cross-sectional data were drawn from a secondary study of character development and service among college students. Analyses involved estimating regression models with interaction effects. Unexpectedly, the data showed that as motivation by values increased, participation decreased in both episodic and organizational, and as understanding and social justice motivation increased, episodic participation decreased. Since the interaction terms between these motives and pandemic protocol adherence were significant, we conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the decrease in participation related to these motives.