The test of time: Predictors and effects of duration in youth mentoring relationships (1).

American Journal of Community Psychology,  April, 2002  by Jean B. Grossman

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Jean B. Grossman (2)

INTRODUCTION

Interventions that link adolescents with volunteer mentors have become increasingly common in recent years. An estimated five million American youth are currently involved in school- and community-based volunteer mentoring programs nationwide, including more than 100,000 participants in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America programs (McLearn, Colasanto, & Schoen, 1998). Enduring mentoring relationships have been found to be associated with a range of benefits to youth. But what are the consequences to adolescents when relationships terminate prematurely? Indeed, approximately half of all youth mentoring relationships dissolve after only a few months, often as the result of ...