NSS volunteers' growth through service: self-efficacy, mattering and well-being

Evidence suggests that volunteering plays an important role in the lives of youth, even when the engagement is through short-duration camps. While some Indian studies have explored well-being outcomes, limited research integrates mattering, self-efficacy, and psychological well-being, highlighting a gap in understanding volunteering as a holistic pathway for youth development. To address this gap, the current mixed-methods study investigated how undergraduate students' psychological well-being, mattering, and self-efficacy were affected by a five-day National Service Scheme (NSS) camp. The sample consisted of 40 NSS volunteers and 40 non-NSS peers of the same institution. According to the quantitative findings Mattering, autonomy, and environmental mastery were all positively impacted by camp participation. Three organising themes emerged from the qualitative findings and together, those themes formed the overarching theme of volunteering as a pathway to feeling valued, capable, and empowered, highlighting implications for youth development and well-being within educational and community settings.