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LET's CONNECT Community Mentorship Program for Adolescents with Peer Social Problems: A Randomized Intervention Trial
Cheryl A King1, Polly Y Gipson1, Alejandra Arango2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
American Journal of Community Psychology
|June 10, 2021
Summary
The LET's CONNECT (LC) program improved social connectedness and self-esteem in at-risk youth. While beneficial for depression, this community mentorship initiative did not impact suicidal ideation or behavior.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Youth experiencing peer victimization, bullying, or low social connectedness face significant developmental challenges.
- Positive youth development models offer a framework for supporting vulnerable adolescents.
- Community-based mentorship programs can provide crucial social support and structured activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the LET's CONNECT (LC) community mentorship program.
- To assess the impact of LC on social connectedness, self-esteem, depression, and suicidal ideation/behavior in at-risk youth.
- To explore the potential of mentorship in mitigating negative developmental trajectories.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 218 adolescents (ages 12-15) reporting peer victimization, bullying, or low social connectedness.
- Participants were assigned to either the LET's CONNECT program or a control group receiving community resource information.
- Outcomes were measured using self-report surveys at 6 and 16 months, assessing social connectedness, self-esteem, depression, and suicidal ideation/behavior.
Main Results:
- The LET's CONNECT program demonstrated modest positive effects on social connectedness and self-esteem.
- Participants in the LC program showed improvements in depression symptoms compared to the control group.
- No significant effects were observed for suicidal ideation or behavior.
Conclusions:
- The LET's CONNECT program shows potential for positively influencing the social and emotional well-being of youth facing interpersonal challenges.
- Community mentorship can be a valuable strategy for enhancing social connectedness and self-esteem in vulnerable adolescents.
- Further research is needed to address implementation challenges and explore program modifications for broader impact, particularly concerning suicidal ideation and behavior.
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