The Many Benefits of Mentoring:
Findings from the Latest Research

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE…


This study showed that mentoring programs in the last decade have successfully produced positive outcomes for youth. Children and adolescents of various ages and backgrounds can experience many benefits from a mentoring relationship, such as: positive social-emotional development, improvements in cognitive processes and thinking skills, and a greater sense of identity.


The analysis did reveal, however, that program effectiveness was even greater when:


·         Youth came from a high-risk environment


·         Mentors took on the role of an advocate to the mentee


·         Mentors and mentees were matched according to shared interests


·         The program did not create matches based on similarities in race/ethnicity


These findings reinforce the idea that youth mentoring is an effective approach to bettering the lives of children and adolescents. This is especially true in circumstances where a child is presented with limited opportunities.


Administrators in a mentoring program should strive to form matches based on shared interests, rather than similarities in appearance. Furthermore, it is important to encourage mentors to act as advocates for their mentees; so that youth will be presented with opportunities that they may not see otherwise in their communities or at home.  However, as this article addresses, it is important that mentors do not overstep the boundaries within their mentoring relationship. Being an advocate means working to advance the potential of the mentee, not replacing a parent or teacher in the youth’s life. Differentiating between these things needs to be an integral part of mentor training.  


Mentoring Central’s Building the Foundation course is an excellent resource for mentor training. It addresses the four stages of mentoring (contemplation, initiation, growth and maintenance and closure/redefinition) through interactive and engaging activities. Also, it allows prospective and current mentors to evaluate their own attitudes and beliefs about the mentoring relationship. If you are interested in enrolling mentors in a course, visit www.mentoringcentral.net for more information.   

 

THE DETAILS…


What was the purpose of this study? 
 To analyze and summarize the findings from over 70 studies on mentoring conducted between 1999 and 2010 in order to draw some conclusions about whether mentoring has an impact on youth outcomes such as academic success.


What did the researchers do?
The researchers reviewed evaluations of 73 different youth mentoring programs, varying in size, goals and characteristics. They analyzed studies that were already conducted on these mentoring programs and generated an overall report of how effective the mentoring programs have been.  


What did the researchers find?
The study confirmed the positive impact that mentoring relationships can have on youth. Mentors can help youth develop a better sense of self-worth, which promotes positive social and emotional development. Furthermore, by acting as a soundboard for their mentees to express themselves, mentors are facilitating the growth of their mentee’s communication skills.


Stronger cognitive skills in mentees served as another testament to the benefits of mentoring relationships. Youth who frequently interact with adults are presented with opportunities to think critically, learn new skills, and see ways in which those skills can be applied.


Lastly, mentoring can help youth find their identities and learn more about their interests. Having a trusted adult friend who encourages the exploration of interests can inspire a mentee to think about his or her potential in life and get in touch with what motivates him or her.


The researchers also found that all of these outcomes were more likely in circumstances where the mentee was from an underserved community or the mentor served as an advocate to help create opportunities for the mentee. In addition to these things, the analysis revealed that mentoring relationships are more successful when they are formed based on shared interests instead of similarities in race or ethnicity.


Source: DuBois, D. L., Portillo, N., Rhodes, J. E., Silverthorn, N., & Valentine, J. C. (2011). How effective are mentoring programs for youth? A systematic assessment of the evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 12, 57-91. doi: 10.1177/1529100611414806.


Back