Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the effect of participation in a mental hospital volunteer program on students' subsequent career plans and activities. Responses of the volunteers on follow-up questionnaires were compared with those of two control groups of college students not in the program. The number of volunteers planning careers in mental health professions increased significantly after participation in the program while the control groups showed little change in career plans. The volunteers also evaluated their summer's experience as highly important for their future vocational plans, and a high percentage planned to spend their next summer engaged in mental health activities. The program had only limited effects, however, on the academic-year behaviors of the volunteers.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.