DeWit David J, Wells Samantha, Elton-Marshall Tara, George Julie
Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 200-100 Collip Circle, London, ON, N6G 4X8, Canada.
J Prim Prev. 2017 Apr;38(1-2):49-66. doi: 10.1007/s10935-016-0441-8.
We compared the mentoring experiences and mental health and behavioral outcomes associated with program-supported mentoring for 125 Aboriginal (AB) and 734 non-Aboriginal (non-AB) youth ages 6-17 participating in a national survey of Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring relationships. Parents or guardians reported on youth mental health and other outcomes at baseline (before youth were paired to a mentor) and at 18 months follow-up. We found that AB youth were significantly less likely than non-AB youth to be in a long-term continuous mentoring relationship. However, AB youth were more likely than non-AB youth to be in a long-term relationship ending in dissolution. AB youth were also more likely than non-AB youth to have been mentored by a female adult. AB youth were significantly more likely than non-AB youth to report a high quality mentoring relationship, regular weekly contact with their mentor, and monthly mentoring activities. Structural equation model results revealed that, relative to non-mentored AB youth, AB youth with mentors experienced significantly fewer emotional problems and symptoms of social anxiety. These relationships were not found for non-AB youth. Our findings suggest that mentoring programs may be an effective intervention for improving the health and well-being of AB youth.
我们比较了参与“大哥哥大姐姐”社区指导关系全国调查的125名6至17岁原住民（AB）青年和734名非原住民（非AB）青年在项目支持下的指导经历以及心理健康和行为结果。父母或监护人在基线（青年与导师配对之前）和18个月随访时报告青年的心理健康及其他结果。我们发现，与非AB青年相比，AB青年建立长期持续指导关系的可能性显著更低。然而，与非AB青年相比，AB青年建立以解散告终的长期关系的可能性更大。AB青年接受成年女性指导的可能性也高于非AB青年。与非AB青年相比，AB青年更有可能报告高质量的指导关系、与导师每周定期联系以及每月的指导活动。结构方程模型结果显示，相对于未接受指导的AB青年，接受指导的AB青年经历的情绪问题和社交焦虑症状显著更少。非AB青年未发现这些关系。我们的研究结果表明，指导项目可能是改善AB青年健康和福祉的有效干预措施。
