Gender and Volunteering at the Special Olympics: Interrelationships Among Motivations, Commitment, and Social Capital

in Journal of Sport Management

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Kirstin Hallmann German Sport University Cologne

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Anita Zehrer MCI Management Center Innsbruck

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Sheranne Fairley University of Queensland

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Lea Rossi German Sport University Cologne

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.2019-0034
Keywords:
event management; social role theory; sport event; volunteer
In Print:
Volume 34: Issue 1
Page Range:
77–90
Restricted access

This research uses social role theory to investigate gender differences in volunteers at the Special Olympics and interrelationships among motivations, commitment, and social capital. Volunteers at the 2014 National Summer Special Olympics in Germany were surveyed (n = 891). Multigroup structural equation modeling has revealed gender differences among motivations, commitment, and social capital. Volunteers primarily volunteered for personal growth. Further, motivations had a significant association with commitment and social capital. The impact of motivation on social capital was significantly mediated by commitment. Event organizers should market opportunities to volunteer by emphasizing opportunities for personal growth and appealing to specific values.

Hallmann and Rossi are with the Institute of Sport Economics and Sport Management, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Zehrer is with MCI Management Center Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. Fairley is with the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, School of Business, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Hallmann (k.hallmann@dshs-koeln.de) is corresponding author.
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