Initiation and Permanence Motivations of Volunteers in Oncology Settings

The aim of this study is to examine motivations that lead people to perform volunteer activities in the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC). Fifty-eight volunteers participated in this study, and filled in a ques-tionnaire reporting their reasons to start volunteering as well as their current motivations. Results showed that, comparing previous and current motivations, self-motivation increased at the expense of altruistic motivations. Results are discussed in the light of a better understanding of the motivations that different volunteers may expe-rience within a cancer-related organization, in terms of their types and changes over time.