The Effect of Volunteering on Stress Hormone Levels of Graduate Student Volunteers

The purpose of this presentation is to set up methods for a long-term study using graduate students in the Speech Pathology graduate program at Longwood University. Previous studies have shown that levels of stress hormones, cortisol and alpha-amylase, decrease after a volunteering activity. In this study, we aim to replicate those results by taking saliva samples from graduate students who are volunteering with disabled children at a local therapeutic barn, Heartland Horse Heroes. From those samples, we will measure levels of cortisol, alpha-amylase, and DHEA, a hormone measuring resistance. We expect to see a decrease in cortisol and alpha-amylase and an increase in DHEA levels, based on previous research. This semester, three graduate students were tested before and after volunteering in Weeks 1, 5, and 10 of their program. This model will be used in the future to provide significant results for this long-term study.