title: Mentoring Relationships and the Mental Health of Aboriginal Youth in Canada.
abstract: 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.
authors: Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 200-100 Collip Circle, London, ON, N6G 4X8, Canada. ddewit@uwo.ca.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: DeWit
authors: Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 200-100 Collip Circle, London, ON, N6G 4X8, Canada.
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Wells
authors: Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 200-100 Collip Circle, London, ON, N6G 4X8, Canada.
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: Elton-Marshall
authors: Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 200-100 Collip Circle, London, ON, N6G 4X8, Canada.
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: George
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D000071252:Mentoring / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Aboriginal youth; Mental health; Mentoring; Relationships