Attitudes Toward Voluntary Work- Among Students at Sultan Qaboos University and the University of Damascus

Abstract

This study investigates the attitudes of university students at Sultan Qaboos University and the University of Damascus toward voluntary work. The research aims to identify students’ orientation toward volunteering, explore the underlying motivations and areas of interest, and examine the main deterrents and perceived impacts of volunteerism. The study also assesses whether students’ attitudes differ based on university affiliation, field of study, or gender.

A total of 242 undergraduate students participated in the study. The researcher employed a standardized instrument to measure attitudes toward voluntary work. Findings reveal a generally positive orientation toward volunteering, with an overall mean score of 74.11%. Attitudes related to the goals of voluntary work scored highest at 83.85%. Among the preferred domains, educational volunteering ranked first (81.90%), followed closely by social volunteering (81.03%).

Key barriers to participation included the lack of early familial socialization around altruism and voluntary engagement. Conversely, anticipated benefits of volunteer involvement included enhanced awareness of community challenges and a strengthened sense of national and religious belonging among students. Statistical analyses indicated significant differences in attitudes based on university and academic discipline, whereas no significant gender-based differences were observed