Extension Wellness Ambassadors: Individual Effects of Participation in a Health-Focused Master Volunteer Program

Authors

• Lisa T. Washburn, University of Arkansas
• LaVona Traywick, University of Arkansas
• Lauren Copeland, University of Arkansas
• Jessica Vincent, University of Arkansas

Volume

55

Issue

2

DOI

10.34068/joe.55.02.12

Abstract

We present findings from a pilot implementation of the Extension Wellness Ambassador Program, a health-focused master volunteer program, and briefly describe the program approach and purpose. Program participants received 40 hr of training and completed assessments of self-efficacy, physical activity, and functional fitness at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Paired-samples t-tests showed significant positive changes in mean for general self-efficacy, self-efficacy for practicing health behaviors, physical activity, and nearly all functional fitness measures. Our findings demonstrate that participation in a health-focused master volunteer program can positively influence participants' lifestyle behaviors as they work to improve health and quality of life in their communities.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Washburn, L. T., Traywick, L., Copeland, L., & Vincent, J. (2017). Extension Wellness Ambassadors: Individual Effects of Participation in a Health-Focused Master Volunteer Program. Journal of Extension, 55(2), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.55.02.12