Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Formal community-based youth mentoring relationships (CBM) are a popular form of intervention worldwide in which caring, non-parental adult figures are matched with at-risk children (i.e., children who experience an intense and/or chronic risk factor, or a combination of risk factors in personal, environmental and/or relational domains that prevent them from pursuing and fulfilling their potential) to promote development and health. Common models suggest that a close mentoring relationship is needed for the success of the intervention. However, it remains unclear which key relational processes and variables promote relationship quality to generate the most significant benefits. Using the PRISMA framework, 123 articles were identified as relevant for this review which explores the state of the literature on CBM relationships describing the main findings regarding the characteristics of the relationship and the mediating and moderating variables. An essential ingredient that consistently emerged for generating mentoring outcomes is characterized by feelings of support, sensitivity, and trust and accompanied by a purposeful approach to shaping the goals of the relationship. A balanced approach comprised of recreational, emotional, and catalyzing aspects has been reported as essential for mentoring success. Mentors’ positive attitudes toward underprivileged youth, maturity in terms of age and experience are essential in forging positive relationships. Mentees who have better relational histories and more positive personality traits exhibited higher relationship quality. However, data imply the possibility of addressing mentees from moderate risk status. Preliminary evidence on thriving as a mediating variable was found. Program practices, such as training, parental involvement, and matching based on perceived similarities and similar interests, emerged as important factors. Generating many research suggestions, the review identifies research questions and uncharted territories that require inquiry.

Duration of Mentoring Relationship Predicts Child Well-Being: Evidence from a Danish Community-Based Mentoring Program

“…The results of our regression analysis are in line with previous literature on communitybased youth mentoring programs in the North American context, e.g., [10,12,13,15], and support our first hypothesis that longer lasting friendships are beneficial to child well-being. We contribute to making the understanding of youth mentoring more diverse by presenting results from the Nordic welfare state context.…”

“…The age span used for the U.S. norm sample was unfortunately of 11-14, but these norms display higher SDQ difficulties compared to the Danish norms (children aged [10][11][12]. De Wit et al [38] find children aged 7-14 years in BBBS to have SDQ scores well above the means of difficulties scores among the U.S. representative samples (children aged 8-10 and 11-14).…”

“…Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ): A validated Danish version of the SDQ (parental report, designed for children aged [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] was used to measure general well-being among the children in our sample. The SDQ has good psychometric properties and is widely used internationally to explore children's emotional problems, behavioral difficulties, hyperactivity/inattentiveness, problems in relation to peers, and social strengths [30,31].…”

“…Youth mentoring programs have traditionally sought to improve the lives of children and youth by providing a relationship with an older, more experienced adult who is a good role model. Building a strong mentor–mentee relationship is likely to take time [ 11 ], and there is empirical evidence that a longer lasting relationship is positively associated with both relationship quality and perceived program support [ 12 ]. Moreover, early termination of a friendship may have negative effects, exacerbating negative views the child or youth may hold of themselves [ 13 ].…”

An Enhanced Mentoring Model’s Impact on Youth in Boys and Girls Clubs

“…Mentoring literature extensively documents how quality and length of relationships impact youth outcomes (Cavell & Elledge, 2013;Goldner & Ben-Eliyahu, 2021;Grossman & Rhodes, 2002).…”