Sustained Volunteerism: A Systematic Review of The Sustainability of Technology-Based Volunteer Participation

This study examines sustained volunteerism as the continuity of voluntary engagement, including remaining active, not withdrawing from a program, or expressing an intention to return as a volunteer. Evidence appears across various contexts such as public health, telemedicine, sports activities, charitable organizations, and population surveys utilizing diverse outcome measures. This review examines the factors and forms of sustained volunteerism, drawing from English-language articles published between 2021 and 2026 that met established quality and indexing criteria. The research methodology involved a structured search using terms related to formal volunteering, community volunteering, volunteer retention, continuance, persistence, commitment, and both organizational and psychosocial factors. Data were extracted on study design, context, sample, outcome definitions, measurement timing, predictors, and risk of bias. The study designs encompassed qualitative research, longitudinal cohorts, cross-sectional surveys, prospective implementation studies, and a meta-analysis. Results: an organizational strategy that upholds initial agreements, provides reliable support, and adjusts roles through consultation is a sensible approach, though its causal effectiveness remains unestablished. Longitudinal studies and interventions utilizing standardized measures of actual retention are required. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that sustained volunteerism is a multidimensional outcome that cannot be captured by single, solitary measures.