Predictors of Premature Match Closure in Youth Mentoring Relationships

• NCJ Number: 251874
• Journal: American Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 59 Issue: 1-2 Dated: March 2017 Pages: 25-35
• Author(s): Janis B. Kupersmidt; Kathryn N. Stump; Rebecca L. Stelter; Jean E. Rhodes
• Date Published: March 2017
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2012-JU-FX-0009
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined program, mentor, and mentee characteristics as predictors of premature match closure.

Abstract

Although mentoring is a popular and effective means of intervention with youth, the positive effects of mentoring can be diminished by premature match closure of relationships. The current study analyzed secondary data on a large national database of mentoring programs that consisted of match and youth risk information from 170 mentoring programs and 6,468 matches from across the United States. The study found that premature closure of a mentoring relationship was associated with mentee age at match inception and 19 individual mentee characteristics. The set of mentee characteristics were examined as part of a cumulative risk index encompassing seven conceptually combined categories, including family background characteristics, school functioning problems, engagement in risky health behaviors, self‐regulation difficulties, engagement in illegal or criminal activities, and internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Both the age of mentees when matched and the cumulative risk index score significantly predicted premature closure. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research and suggestions for enhancing mentoring program practices. (Publisher abstract modified)