Exploring the factors influencing the use of volunteer service platforms among the young-old: A motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) perspective

Volunteerism among older adults is a key pathway to active aging, yet traditional offline participation is constrained by limited channels and information asymmetry. Older Adult Volunteer Service Platforms (OAVSPs) provide digital infrastructures that facilitate information access, coordination, and decision-making, but the mechanisms underlying older adults’ use of these platforms remain insufficiently understood. Based on the motivation-opportunity-capability (MOA) theory, this study examines the motivational, opportunity, and capability factors that influence the use of OAVSPs from a holistic perspective. Data were collected from 566 young-old volunteers (aged 60–69) across China through online and offline surveys and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results indicate that motivational factors (information seeking, social interaction), opportunity factors (supply-demand fit, time availability, peer influence), and ability factors (self-efficacy) all significantly and positively affect the use of OAVSPs among young-old volunteers, which in turn promotes volunteer participation. By integrating SEM and fsQCA within the MOA framework, this study captures both net effects and multiple configurational pathways, offering a more comprehensive and multidimensional explanation of older adults’ digital volunteerism than prior research. These findings advance theory on digital volunteerism and provide practical insights for optimizing platform design, fostering participation, and promoting active aging and social inclusion.