The Influence of Task Significance on Prosocial Behavior and Job Burnout among Rescue Volunteers in Southern Thailand: The Mediating Role of Prosocial Motivation
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Abstract
Previous research has highlighted task significance, defined as the perception that one’s work is meaningful and positively impacts others, as an important factor influencing volunteer behavior. However, outcomes among rescue volunteers remain inconsistent, some display high energy and commitment, while others experience exhaustion and burnout. This study, based on Self-Determination Theory, examines how task significance shapes volunteer motivation and subsequently affects prosocial behavior and burnout. The study focused on two forms of prosocial motivation, namely pleasure-based and pressure-based prosocial motivation. Data were collected from 476 rescue volunteers across 69 charitable organizations in 14 provinces of Southern Thailand. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to test the mediating role of motivation. The results reveal that task significance functions as both a positive and negative driving force. Pleasure-based prosocial motivation enhances prosocial behavior and reduces work fatigue, while pressure-based prosocial motivation, although it also promotes prosocial behavior, is positively associated with job burnout. These findings underscore the dual nature of task significance, highlighting its role as a “double-edged sword” that can simultaneously empower and strain rescue volunteers. The study offers theoretical and practical implications for volunteer organizations to cultivate intrinsic motivation while minimizing external pressures that contribute to burnout.
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