Volunteers-to-be in Oman: An Analytical Study of Sociocultural Motivations among University Students within their Social Networks

Abstract

Volunteerism research has been predominantly informed by Western perspectives emphasizing individual agency, providing limited understanding of volunteer motivations in societies where religious and sociocultural values remain central. This study examines the sociocultural motivations underlying volunteering intentions among Omani university students and identifies the demographic characteristics associated with these motivations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 492 university students, with analyses focusing on 399 respondents who expressed willingness to volunteer but had no prior volunteering experience. Exploratory factor analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and chi-square tests were employed to identify latent motivational dimensions and examine differences across sociodemographic groups. Five motivational dimensions emerged: faith and humanism, generosity and family, compassion and career relationships, homeland duty and individual will, and personal protection and career development. The faith and humanism factor emerged as the strongest motivational dimension, whereas the personal protection and career development factor was the weakest. Cluster analysis identified three distinct motivational profiles, with only 25.3% of respondents exhibiting consistently high motivation. Age and educational attainment significantly differentiated motivational profiles, whereas other sociodemographic characteristics showed no significant differences. The findings demonstrate that volunteering intentions in Oman are primarily shaped by culturally embedded religious and communal values rather than instrumental considerations, extending understanding of volunteer motivation in non-Western contexts and informing culturally responsive strategies for volunteer recruitment and engagement.