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The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Mentoring Program for Children Aged 5-11 Years: Results from a Randomized
Nick Axford1, Gretchen Bjornstad2, Justin Matthews3
1NIHR ARC South West Peninsula (PenARC), University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
Insights
A volunteer mentoring program showed no significant improvement in behavioral or emotional outcomes for children aged 5-11 with difficulties. Further research is needed to revise program content for effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Intervention Studies
- Behavioral Health
Background:
- Children aged 5-11 with behavioral difficulties often require targeted interventions.
- Volunteer mentoring programs are a potential avenue for supporting child behavioral and emotional development.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of such programs is crucial for evidence-based practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the implementation and effectiveness of a 12-month one-to-one volunteer mentoring program.
- To determine the program's impact on behavioral and emotional outcomes in children aged 5-11.
- To identify if the mentoring program improves outcomes compared to a control group.
Main Methods:
- A two-arm, randomized controlled trial involving 246 children (aged 5-11) with reported behavioral difficulties.
- Participants were randomized 1:1 to either a 12-month mentoring intervention or a control group.
- Outcomes were measured using parent- and teacher-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and child-rated self-perception and hope.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were found in the primary outcome (parent-rated SDQ Total Difficulties) between the intervention and control groups.
- Complier average causal effect (CACE) analysis indicated the intervention was not effective even for children who completed the recommended mentoring duration.
- Exploratory analyses revealed no significant sub-group effects on the primary outcome.
Conclusions:
- The 12-month volunteer mentoring program demonstrated no significant effect on children's behavior or emotional well-being.
- Current program content may not adequately address key risk and protective factors influencing child outcomes.
- Program revision is recommended to enhance its effectiveness in supporting children with behavioral difficulties.
Abstract:
The study, a two-arm, randomized controlled, parallel group, superiority trial, aimed to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a 12-month one-to-one volunteer mentoring program designed to improve behavioral and emotional outcomes in children aged 5 to 11 years who have teacher- and parent/carer-reported behavioral difficulties. Participants were 246 children (123 intervention, 123 control; mean age 8.4 years; 87% boys) in five sites in London, UK, scoring in the "abnormal" range on the teacher-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Total Difficulties measure and in the "borderline" or abnormal range on the parent-rated SDQ Total Difficulties measure. Randomization on a 1:1 ratio took place using a computer-generated sequence and stratifying by site. Data collectors and statisticians were blind to participant allocation status. Outcome measures focused on parent- and teacher-rated child behavior and emotions, and child-rated self-perception and hope. Intention-to-treat analysis on all 246 randomized participants (using imputed data where necessary) showed that at post-intervention (16 months after randomization), there were no statistically significant effects on the primary outcome-parent-rated SDQ Total Difficulties (adjusted standardized mean difference = - 0.12; 95% CI: -0.38 to 0.13; p = 0.33)-or any secondary outcomes. Results from complier average causal effect (CACE) analysis using the primary outcome indicated the intervention was not effective for children who received the recommended duration of mentoring. Exploratory analyses found no sub-group effects on the primary outcome. The article concludes that the mentoring program had no effect on children's behavior or emotional well-being, and that program content needs revising to satisfactorily address key risk and protective factors.
