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Cited by 43Mentoring and Academic DevelopmentYouth Development and Social SupportCrime Patterns and Interventions

Mentoring relationship closures in Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring programs: Patterns and associated risk factors

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DeWit, David J., DuBois, David, Erdem, Gizem, Larose, Simon, Lipman, Ellen L., Spencer, Renée·2016·American Journal of Community Psychology
DOI 10.1002/ajcp.12023
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Abstract

Previous research suggests that early mentoring relationship (MR) closures may have harmful consequences for the health and well‐being of youth participating in community‐based mentoring programs. However, knowledge of the factors that lead some MR s to close early has been slow to emerge. This study examined patterns and correlates of early versus on‐time MR closures among 569 youth participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters community mentoring programs. Thirty‐four percent of youth experienced an early MR closure prior to the end of the program's 12 month period of commitment. The probability of closure was highest at 12 months into the MR. Early closures were positively associated with youth gender (girls), behavioral difficulties, and match determination difficulties. Early and on‐time closures were associated with youth extrinsic motives for joining the program. Early MR closures were negatively associated with youth perceptions of parent emotional support, parent social support, high quality MR, weekly contact in MR, and parent support of the MR. Implications for programming are discussed.

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  • Findings from open-ended mentoring programs from Canada and the U.S. indicated that 34% to half of all mentoring relationships end prematurely, with most terminating within the first few months.

    “Specifically, findings from open-ended mentoring programs from Canada and the U.S. (mostly BBBS) indicated that 34% to half of all mentoring relationships end prematurely, with most terminating within the first few months [11,33,41,111,112,113,114].”

    From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Abstract and Description of Sample report that 34% of youth experienced a relationship closure before the 12-month commitment ended. The Introduction cites estimates that 30–50% of mentoring relationships last only a few months, but it does not say most closures occur then. The Description of Sample instead reports that the monthly probability of closure was highest at 12 months. Page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Evidence from short- and long-term mentoring programs suggests that for mentoring programs that specifically address parental involvement, the likelihood of early closure is lessened.

    “Evidence gathered from short- and long-term mentoring programs suggests that for mentoring programs that specifically address parental involvement, the likelihood of early closure is lessened [41].”

    From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that closures were significantly less likely when parents supported their child’s mentor. The Program and Policy Implications section recommends practices to strengthen parent–mentor relationships, but the study does not establish that programs specifically addressing parental involvement reduce early closure, or compare short- and long-term programs. Its finding for caseworker contact with parents did not reach statistical significance. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Mentors' perceptions and mentees' perceptions regarding the general quality of the relationship predicted mentoring longevity in U.S. and Canadian BBBS programs.

    “Furthermore, mentors’ perceptions [40] and mentees’ perceptions [41,42] regarding the general quality of the relationship predicted mentoring longevity in U.S. and Canadian BBBS programs.”

    From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

  • Early match terminations in BBBS Canada were less likely to occur when parents provided emotional support and when mentees' parents or guardians perceived support from their network.

    “Early match terminations in BBBS Canada were less likely to occur when parents provided emotional support and when mentees’ parents or guardians perceived support from their network [41,111].”

    From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

  • Behavioral difficulties predicted early termination in a study conducted in BBBS Canada.

    “However, behavioral difficulties predicted early termination in a study conducted in BBBS Canada [41].”

    From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [8]8. DuBois, D. L., & Neville, H. A. (1997). Youth mentoring: Investi-gation of relationship characteristics and perceived benefits. Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 227-234.
  2. [26]26. McGuire, J. B. (1997). The reliability and validity of a questionnaire describing neighborhood characteristics relevant to families and young children living in urban areas. Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 551-566.
  3. [48]48. Stukus, A. A., Clary, E. G., & Synder, M. (2013). Mentor recruit-ment and retention. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 397-411). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  4. [49]49. Taylor, A. S., & Porcellini, L. (2013). Family involvement. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (2nd edn, pp. 457-468). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

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Authors
DeWit, D. J., DuBois, D., Erdem, G., Larose, S., Lipman, E. L., & Spencer, R.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
  • Koç University (TR)
  • Université Laval (CA)
  • McMaster University (CA)
  • Boston University (US)
Corresponding author
DeWit, David J.
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Community Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-03
Volume
57
Issue
1-2
Pages
60-72
ISSN
  • 0091-0562 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2770
DOI
10.1002/ajcp.12023
OpenAlex
W2315090897
Cited by
43
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2
FWCI
7.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 39 d)
Locations
  • American Journal of Community Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Collections portal (Koç University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP 130435, MOP 81115)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mentoring and Academic Development
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
Keywords
Big Brothers Big Sisters, youth, risk factors, behavioral problems, extrinsic motivation, relationship quality, gender differences
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Canada, Child, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Mentors, Motivation, Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care, Patient Dropouts, Risk Factors, Social Welfare, Patient Satisfaction

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