title: The potential role of an adult mentor in influencing high-risk behaviors in adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While mentorship programs, which connect adolescents with adults to whom they can turn to for help and advice, are proliferating in an attempt to prevent high-risk behaviors in teenagers, there are few data to show that mentorship actually makes a difference.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is an association between having an adult mentor and high-risk behaviors in adolescents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Adolescents who have an adult mentor would be less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors than those without an adult mentor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was developed to assess demographics, involvement in risk behaviors, and the prevalence of a mentor in the life of a young person.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 294 adolescents, seen consecutively (93% of those approached), receiving outpatient medical care. Participants were predominantly female (68%), of mixed race/ethnicity, aged between 12 and 23 years (mean +/- SD age, 16.9 +/- 2.4), and from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  An adolescent health service in a suburban community-based teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent smoking, alcohol and drug use, sexual practices, and weapon carrying.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents with mentors were significantly less likely to participate in 4 of the 5 measured risk behaviors: ever carrying a weapon (odds ratio, 0.41; P< or =.01), illicit drug use in the past 30 days (odds ratio, 0.44; P< or =.01), smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day (odds ratio, 0.54; P< or =.05), and sex with more than 1 partner in the past 6 months (odds ratio, 0.56; P< or =.05). No significant difference was found with alcohol use (> or =3 drinks in the past 30 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A strong positive relationship was found between adolescents having an adult mentor and decreased participation in 4 of the 5 risk behaviors evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beier
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Spitalny
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zansky
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Bontempo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control