ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Mental Health
Healing Through Volunteering: Psychological Well-Being in Humanitarian Missions
Provisionally accepted
- Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Background: Psychological well-being is a critical component of overall health, particularly for healthcare professionals who face high-stress environments. Volunteering has been associated with positive mental health outcomes, yet limited research has explored its impact on specialized medical missions. This study investigates the psychological effects of participating in a cochlear implant humanitarian mission on healthcare professionals, assessing changes in their mental well-being before and after the experience. Methods: A descriptive, questionnaire-based study was conducted on volunteers who participated in a cochlear implant mission for Syrian children with hearing loss in Turkey. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) was administered in two phases—before and after the mission. A Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) model was applied to assess changes in well-being scores, adjusting for socio-demographic predictors. Results: A total of 31 participants completed both phases. The average WEMWBS score significantly increased after the mission (β = 9.19, p < 0.001), indicating improved psychological well-being. Positive changes were observed across multiple well-being indicators, including optimism, confidence, and emotional resilience. Notably, participants with prior humanitarian experience showed greater well-being improvements. Despite the demanding nature of the mission, all participants expressed high satisfaction, with 100% willing to participate in future missions. Conclusion: Participation in a cochlear implant humanitarian mission positively influenced healthcare professionals' psychological well-being, reinforcing the value of structured volunteer programs in mitigating stress and enhancing resilience. These findings highlight the potential role of medical volunteering in improving mental health and professional fulfilment among healthcare workers.
Keywords: volunteering, cochlear implant, psychological well-being, Medical team, mental health, mission
Received: 21 Oct 2025; Accepted: 21 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 HAJR. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Eman HAJR, eahajr@imamu.edu.sa
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