Can Mentoring Promote Self-esteem and School Connectedness? An Evaluation of the Mentor-UP Project

• DOI: 10.5093/pi2019a13
• Publication Date: 2019-07-22T10:48:30Z
• Authors: Claudia Marino; Massimo Santinello; Michela Lenzi; Paolo Santoro; Marisa Bergamin; Marta Gaboardi; Antonio Calcagnì; Gianmarco Altoè; Douglas D. Perkins
• Keywords: self-esteem; prevention programs; Programas de prevención; 4. Education; 05 social sciences; 370; Autoestima; Italia; Youth mentoring; Conexión escolar; BF1-990; Italy; italy; Self-esteem; Psychology; Mentoría juvenil; youth mentoring; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; School connectedness; Italy; Prevention programs; School connectedness; Self-esteem; Youth mentoring;; 10. No inequality; school connectedness; Prevention programs

ABSTRACT Research in the United States has shown that youth mentoring is a promising strategy for increasing self-esteem and school connectedness in at-risk youth. There has been little confirmation of those findings internationally. The current study evaluates the impact of mentoring by trained university students on children's self-esteem and school connectedness compared to schoolmates not involved in the program. Mentor-UP is a school- and community-based weekly mentoring program implemented in northern Italy over a period of seven months. Participants (209 students – 34 in the experimental group and 175 in the comparison group – aged between 11 and 13, 56% male, 27% immigrants) reported their levels of self-esteem and school connectedness at the beginning and at the end of the program. Results showed a significant increase in mentees' self-esteem compared to the control group, while the difference in school-connectedness was nonsignificant. The findings support the effectiveness of Mentor-UP in nurturing youth's self-esteem.