title: Benefits derived by college students from mentoring at-risk youth in a service-learning course.
abstract: Service learning is increasingly being used as a pedagogical strategy for promoting the development of civic-mindedness among university students. Despite the use of this strategy, little is known about the benefits derived from specific types of service-learning experiences. Additionally, few notable studies have examined the unique outcomes experienced by mentors of at-risk youth. Therefore, this study examines the civic-related benefits that college students derive from mentoring at-risk youth within a structured, service-learning course. A series of linear regression models were estimated to determine if there were significant post-intervention differences between the treatment and comparison condition for the variables of interest, after adjusting for key background factors and pre-intervention levels of all variables. The results indicated that, in comparison to college students who did not participate in the course (n = 258), college student in Campus Corps, a youth mentoring program, (n = 390) had significantly higher scores at post-intervention regarding mentors' civic attitudes, community service self-efficacy, self-esteem, interpersonal and problem solving skills, political awareness, and civic action. Findings hold important implications for youth mentoring programs and future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), Colorado State University, 424 Behavioral Sciences, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA, lindsey.weiler@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddock
authors.forename: Toni S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Jen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krafchick
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rudisill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012946:Social Welfare; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult