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).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
106
Weekly volunteering with elementary school children in after school programs
Vancouver Technical Secondary School
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Body mass index
Time frame: Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months
C-reactive protein
Time frame: Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months
Interleukin-6
Time frame: Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months
Total Cholesterol
Time frame: Baseline-adjusted post-intervention scores at 4 months
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