In 2013 a study was made called “The Role of Risk: Mentoring Experiences and Outcomes for Youth with Varying Risk Profiles,” who examined mentoring program relationships, experiences and benefits for higher-risk youth.
Among the findings there are some positive results.
- The strongest program benefit, and most consistent across risk groups, was a reduction in depressive symptoms — a particularly noteworthy finding given that almost one in four youth reported worrisome levels of these symptoms at baseline.
- Findings also suggested gains in social acceptance, academic attitudes and grades.
- In addition to benefits in specific domains, mentored youth also experienced gains in a greater number of outcomes than youth in the comparison group.
The study also confirmed that mentoring programs could be beneficial for youth with a broad range of backgrounds and characteristics. If training and support was tailored it has the potential to produce an even stronger benefits.
The study involved more than 1,300 youth, drawn from seven mentoring programs in USA.
Click here to view the full study