Mentoring Youth With Psychiatric Disorders: The Impact on Child and Parent Functioning

• NCJ Number: 253671
• Journal: Child & Family Behavior Therapy Volume: 28 Dated: 2006 Pages: 43-58
• Author(s): Jason F. Jent; Larissa N. Niec
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CrimeSolutions Program ID #502

Annotation

This study examined the effectiveness of a behavioral mentoring program aimed at serving youth with psychiatric disorders.

Abstract

Participants were 30 youth (8-12 years old) receiving services in a mentoring program for a mental health population and 30 wait-listed youth and their maternal caregivers. Participating in mentoring services was related to higher family functioning across multiple domains, including child behavior, parenting stress, perceived parent social support, and perceived parent-child relationship quality. As predicted, parenting stress mediated the relationship between mentoring and children's externalizing behavior problems. Results suggest that mentoring services may be a useful adjunct service for highly stressed families with children who have emotional and behavioral disorders. (publisher abstract modified)