Date of Award
7-2006
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Dr. Wendy Zabava Ford
Second Advisor
Dr. James Gilchrist
Third Advisor
Dr. Peter Northouse
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis was to assess supportive communication practices as predictors of volunteer outcomes. As healthcare organizations continue to grow and expand services to patients, the need for volunteers will expand as well. If volunteers are supported within the organization they will become a part of the healthcare environment and ultimately can make a difference for the organization. lt was hypothesized that supportive communication by both staff and co-volunteers would predict higher levels of volunteer satisfaction, role identity, safety perceptions, and loyalty, and lower levels of volunteer bumout. Results indicate that emotional support from staff was the strongest predictor of volunteer satisfaction, role identity, safety perceptions, word of mouth ( an indicator of loyalty), and reduced burnout. Informational support to volunteers was also significant in predicting satisfaction and safety perceptions. Emotional support from co-volunteers strongly predicted volunteer satisfaction, as well as safety perceptions. Problem-solving support by co-volunteers was also predictive of Word Of Mouth (WOM). Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Gregory, Virginia Ann, "Exploring the Influence of Supportive Communication Practices on Volunteer Satisfaction, Role Identity, Safety Perceptions, Loyalty, and Burnout" (2006). Masters Theses. 3982.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3982