Trait Emotional Intelligence, Motivation, Engagement, and Intended Retention of Court-Appointed Special Advocate Volunteers

• Main Author: Obenoskey, Kim
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: ScholarWorks 2016
• Subjects: Court appointed special advocate; Functional motivation; Retention; Trait emotional intelligence; volunteer; Work engagement; Psychology
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2747; https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3850&context=dissertations

U.S. volunteer-dependent organizations continue to look for more effective ways to support their volunteer recruitment, training, and retention efforts. No prior research has evaluated what variables support sustained volunteerism for CASA volunteers. The purpose of this study was to investigate sustained volunteerism by evaluating the relationships between trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) measured using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, motivation to volunteer using the Volunteers Functional Inventory, volunteer work engagement using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and intended retention of CASA volunteers. One hundred fifty five CASA volunteers from different CASA organizations responded to an on-line survey. Correlational and regression analysis of survey data showed global trait EI to be significantly related to volunteer's intent of finishing their current case and their intent to take a new case within six months after completing their current case. Trait EI and functional motivations to volunteer were significantly related to volunteer work engagement. High values and understanding motives to volunteer were significantly and negatively related to the volunteer considering quitting their current case. Social motivation to volunteer was significantly and positively related to the intent of taking another case within six months after completing the current case. This research is designed to benefit CASA organizations in moving closer to their goal of having a CASA volunteer for each child in the challenging state child welfare foster care systems.