Portraits of American Life Study
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The PALS seeks to understand the impact of religion in everyday life, and ultimately the connections between religious change and other forms of change among diverse individuals and families over the course of their lives.
Results & Summaries

Volunteering and Informal Helping

  All frequencies weighted by PAWT2


In the past twelve months, have you done any volunteer work - that is, work for a nonprofit, charitable organization, school or group for which you did not receive pay? (VO_1)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
1) Yes105640.5
2) No155159.5
Missing2 
TOTAL2608100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In a typical month do your volunteering activities take up more than one hour of your time? (VO_2)
TOTAL%
1) Yes60857.6
2) No44842.4
Missing1554 
TOTAL1056100.0
[ Analyze results ]
[IF VO_2=2 OR DK/RF, SKIP TO VO_3; ELSE ASK VO_2A.] About how many hours in a typical week do your volunteering activities take up? (VO_2A)
TOTAL%
-4) Don't know5.8
0) 0183
1) 110617.4
2) 214123.2
3) 39115
4) 46210.2
5) 5416.7
10) 6-108714.3
15) 11-15183
20) 16-20213.5
30) 21-30122
40) More than 3061
Missing2002 
TOTAL608100.0
 
About what percent of your volunteering in the past twelve months was for a religious organization or group? (VO_3)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused1.1
-4) Don't know1.1
1) 0%69666
2) 1-10%16115.3
3) 11-20%363.4
4) 21-30%312.9
5) 31-40%141.3
6) 41-50%151.4
7) 51-60%8.8
8) 61-70%7.7
9) 71-80%7.7
10) 81-90%9.9
11) 91-100%686.5
Missing1554 
TOTAL1054100.0
 
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given advice or counsel? Congregation members (ADVCCONG)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know12.5
0) No227287
1) Yes32112.3
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given advice or counsel? Close family (such as parents, children, and adult siblings) (ADVCFAM)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know3.1
0) No83832.1
1) Yes176467.6
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given advice or counsel? Other family and friends (ADVCFFR)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know3.1
0) No108241.5
1) Yes152058.2
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given advice or counsel? Neighbors (ADVCNGHB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know3.1
0) No211981.2
1) Yes48318.5
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given advice or counsel? None (ADVCNONE)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know3.1
0) No222885.4
1) Yes37414.3
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Number of types listed respondent has given advice to in past twelve months (ADVCNUMB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know3.1
0) 037614.4
1) 199638.2
2) 263024.1
3) 330511.7
4) 42077.9
5) 5873.3
TOTAL2609100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given advice or counsel? Strangers (ADVCSTRA)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused5.2
-4) Don't know3.1
0) No221584.9
1) Yes38714.8
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given money? Congregation members (GIVECONG)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know10.4
0) No230488.3
1) Yes29311.2
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given money? Close family (such as parents, children, and adult siblings) (GIVEFAM)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No110742.4
1) Yes149857.4
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given money? Other family and friends (GIVEFFR)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No173066.3
1) Yes87533.5
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given money? Neighbors (GIVENGHB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No241792.6
1) Yes1887.2
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given money? None (GIVENONE)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No205578.7
1) Yes55021.1
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Number of types listed respondent has given money to in past twelve months (GIVENUMB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) 055321.2
1) 1113443.4
2) 255621.3
3) 32188.3
4) 41003.8
5) 5451.7
TOTAL2611100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you given money? Strangers (GIVESTRA)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused3.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No190372.9
1) Yes70226.9
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you helped directly by giving some of your time? Congregation members (HELPCONG)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know8.3
0) No218983.9
1) Yes41115.7
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you helped directly by giving some of your time? Close family (such as parents, children, and adult siblings) (HELPFAM)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No72627.8
1) Yes187872
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you helped directly by giving some of your time? Other family and friends (HELPFFR)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No101138.8
1) Yes159261
TOTAL2609100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you helped directly by giving some of your time? Neighbors (HELPNGHB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No184270.6
1) Yes76129.2
TOTAL2609100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you helped directly by giving some of your time? None (HELPNONE)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No237491
1) Yes2308.8
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Number of types listed respondent has given time to in past twelve months (HELPNUMB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know4.2
0) 02328.9
1) 197937.5
2) 261223.5
3) 338014.6
4) 427210.4
5) 51284.9
TOTAL2609100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you helped directly by giving some of your time? Strangers (HELPSTRA)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No211280.9
1) Yes49218.9
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, which have helped you directly by giving their time? Congregation members (RECCONG)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know8.3
0) No220384.4
1) Yes39915.3
TOTAL2611100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, which have helped you directly by giving their time? Close family (such as parents, children, and adult siblings) (RECFAM)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No52220
1) Yes208379.8
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, which have helped you directly by giving their time? Other family and friends (RECFFR)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No100538.5
1) Yes160061.3
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, which have helped you directly by giving their time? Neighbors (RECNGHB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No200276.7
1) Yes60423.1
TOTAL2611100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, which have helped you directly by giving their time? None (RECNONE)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No243793.3
1) Yes1696.5
TOTAL2611100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Number of types listed respondent has been helped by in past twelve months (RECNUMB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know4.2
0) 01716.5
1) 197437.3
2) 284932.5
3) 337814.5
4) 41786.8
5) 5562.1
TOTAL2611100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, which have helped you directly by giving their time? Strangers (RECSTRA)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused10
-4) Don't know4.2
0) No244493.6
1) Yes1626.2
TOTAL2611100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you been able to trust completely? Congregation members (TRSTCONG)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No228587.5
1) Yes32112.3
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you been able to trust completely? Close family (such as parents, children, and adult siblings) (TRSTFAM)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No43316.6
1) Yes217383.3
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you been able to trust completely? Other family and friends (TRSTFFR)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No120146
1) Yes140553.8
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you been able to trust completely? Neighbors (TRSTNGHB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No212181.3
1) Yes48518.6
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you been able to trust completely? None (TRSTNONE)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No242392.8
1) Yes1837
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Number of types listed respondent has been able to trust in past twelve months (TRSTNUMB)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) 01857.1
1) 1112743.2
2) 275428.9
3) 336313.9
4) 41626.2
5) 515.6
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
In the past twelve months, for which people, if any, have you been able to trust completely? Strangers (TRSTSTRA)
TOTAL%
-7) Refused2.1
-4) Don't know2.1
0) No254397.4
1) Yes632.4
TOTAL2610100.0
[ Analyze results ]
Instructions
View each question on our survey and how our respondents answered to the left.

To perform an auto-analysis of how an item relates to key demographics such as gender, education, church attendance and more, click on the "Analyze results" link below a variable.
Modules
Click on a link to jump to a topic module. Move the mouse over links to see short descriptions.

Household Roster
Current Living Arrangement
Race/Ethnicity
Race Ethnicity (ACASI)
Housing Choice
Work/Job
Sensation-Seeking
Social Activities
Congregational Identity
Congregational Affiliation
Religious Identification
Centrality and Salience of Religious Identity
Networks and Network Density
Intergroup Contact
Political Participation
Volunteering and Informal Helping
Moral/Political Attitudes
Moral and Political Attitudes (ACASI)
Religion - Importance
Religious Guidance/Religious Authority
Religious Guidance and Religious Authority (ACASI)
Relationship Behaviors (ACASI)
Relationship Quality (ACASI)
Deviance (ACASI)
Religious Beliefs (ACASI)
Religious Attendance (ACASI)
Spiritual Experiences
Health
Demographics
Generated Variables
Appended and Other Variables

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