Purpose in Life Mediating Community Participation and Subjective Well-Being among NGO workers in Coimbatore
Authors
Hindusthan College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India (India)
Hindusthan College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India (India)
Article Information
DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150700185
Subject Category: Education
Volume/Issue: 15/7 | Page No: 2509-2515
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2026-08-13
Accepted: 2026-08-17
Published: 2026-08-29
Abstract
Taking part in local groups helps people feel more grounded, seen, less alone. When folks join neighborhood efforts, they tend to say they feel more included, more at ease inside. Purpose - the sense something matters - might explain why being active socially lifts mood and outlook. This work looks at how that inner drive links involvement with overall feeling good, focusing on aid group staff and helpers in Coimbatore. Data was gathered once, using numbers to spot patterns across people right then. A mix of 476 people - workers and helpers from groups focused on schooling, medical care, nature preservation, plus community support - took part, chosen carefully by category. These individuals came from varied backgrounds yet shared one trait: each was eighteen or older. Half a year minimum had passed since they began contributing time to nonprofit efforts, making experience a common thread among them.
Information came from standard psychology tools. One tool checked how involved people are in local events. Another looked at personal sense of purpose. A third measured feelings about overall happiness. Researchers used different methods: averages, links between factors, indirect effects, and interaction checks. All calculations happened inside Jamovi, a program for data work. Results showed that joining community actions tied closely to better mood reports. People more active in neighborhoods often felt clearer about life goals too. What mattered most? Purpose acted like a bridge. When someone took part regularly, it fed their inner drive. That growing clarity then lifted emotional health along the way. Not just activity alone - but what grew from doing something meaningful.
Longer NGO experience made the link between taking part and feeling good even stronger, though whether someone was older or female didn’t change much. What stands out is how mental wellness
grows when people stay involved in helping their communities. This work adds to what we know about group-based support and personal growth by showing that a sense of meaning helps connect service efforts with better feelings of well-being for those working in nonprofits. When organizations create roles that feel truly worthwhile, it can lift mood and drive in both employees and helpers. Being active together builds deeper purpose - which then lifts overall life satisfaction.
Keywords
Life feels fuller when people lend a hand. Helping out ties into deeper meaning. Those who give time often report brighter days
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References
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