Directions in the longitudinal relationship between volunteering and memory function in older adults: A 10-year perspective.

Participation in volunteering activities has benefits for older adults' cognitive function, but the dynamic interplay and direction of this association, particularly on a specific cognitive domain (memory), remains unclear. Using longitudinal data of older adults aged 60 years and older ( = 14,521) from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study from 2010 to 2020, this study conducted latent growth curve models and random intercept cross-lagged panel models to examine the trajectories of formal and informal volunteering and their reciprocal relationships with objective and subjective memory function, respectively. Results showed a linear decline in both formal and informal volunteering over the decade, and the trajectories of volunteering were positively associated with the developmental trends of memory, as evidenced by both intercept-intercept and slope-slope correlations. In addition, directional analysis revealed that volunteering positively predicted subsequent objective memory, but not vice versa. Subjective memory predicted older adults' subsequent engagement in volunteering rather than objective memory. Note that the prediction of volunteering on subjective memory differed by type of volunteering, with only formal volunteering predicting subsequent subjective memory, but not informal volunteering. The findings underscore the importance of formal volunteering as a structured activity to support cognitive function in older adults, particularly in maintaining objective memory, while also demonstrating the role of subjective memory in motivating future volunteer engagement. Practical interventions may prioritize sustaining participation through accessible, tailored programs and addressing the observed decline in volunteering over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).