Implicit and explicit prosocial motivation as antecedents of volunteering: the moderating role of parenthood

Abstract

We test a model proposing that having children influences motivational pathways of volunteering in the same way across two different cultures. The model posits that parents' engagement in volunteering is driven by implicit, whereas non-parents' engagement in volunteering is related to explicit prosocial motivation. Participants were 570 parents and non-parents from Turkey and the US (M$_a$$_g$$_e$ = 33.7 years; 58.2% female). Results across the two cultural contexts confirmed our model. Our findings highlight the need for considering implicit prosocial motivation as an antecedent of volunteering, and underline the importance of examining parenthood as a moderator for motivations to volunteer. Avenues for further research and implications for voluntary organizations are discussed.