Value dimensions of volunteer activity as an area of moral growth and civic participation of student youth

Problem and objective. In the context of exacerbation of humanitarian risks and challenges to contemporary society, there is a problem of including students in socially salutary work within the framework of volunteer activity by accustoming them the key volunteer values. The aim of the study is to clarify and develop the value parameters of student social volunteering in a region of increased humanitarian tension. Research methods. The study used methods of axiological reconstruction of the mental space of volunteering, expert assessments, document analysis, focus group method, thesaurus analysis, value maps method, thematic discussions, and psychodrama method. Monitoring and experimental procedures included 144 students of the Belgorod National Research University and 11 experts in the field of volunteer and humanitarian services. The diagnostic work used the following methods: motivational personality profile test, emotional orientation test, 16 PF Questionnaire, Rokeach Value Survey (adaptation by D.A. Leontyev). Statistical methods included percentage data distribution, parametric statistics, and significance of differences analyzing method (Student's t-test). Results of the study. A diagnostic study revealed a significant role of values in the psychological characteristics of students constantly participating in volunteer work. Compared to students who left volunteering, they had higher values such as: happiness of others (tEMP=9.3), productive life (tEMP=4.8), creativity (tEMP=5.3), forgiveness (tEMP=9.1), delicacy (tEMP=9.4), broad-mindedness (tEMP=8.8). Ex-volunteer students express a greater value of freedom (tEMP=14.7), inner harmony (tEMP=15.1) and independence (tEMP=15.8). No significant differences were found among other properties. Both groups of students equally exhibited growth needs, altruistic orientation, rule-consciousness, emotional stability and self-reliance. Students who left volunteering showed higher vigilance (“L”, tEMP=5.1), dominance (“E”, tEMP=5.4), apprehension (“O”, tEMP=5.5) and some egocentricity. Taking into account the key role of the value factor in consolidating students in the field of volunteering, the work proposes a construct of its value dimensions as moral-sense parameters for orienting students to volunteer work. The following value clusters were identified in the study as such key dimensions: humanism, patriotism, solidarity and unselfishness. These dimensions became the basis for corrective work with students. The use of special value maps of volunteer, thematically reflective discussions and meetings, as well as psychodramatic sketches to reproduce students’ life stories made it possible to strengthen their desire and motivation to participate in volunteer work. The majority of students (88% of the total) decided to continue their work as active volunteers. Conclusion. The construct of value dimensions proposed in this study has no exact analogues in studies of youth participation in volunteering, since it reflects the specifics of volunteer work in a region of increased humanitarian tension, which is its conceptual significance and applied value in engaging students to this work.