Research from Related Fields

A summary of research from psychology, sociology and other fields as it relates to youth mentoring.

Close up compassionate young foster parent holding hands of little kid girl,

New study explores the voices of children of incarcerated parents: Implications for policy and practice

Reference: Benninger, E., Schmidt‐Sane, M., Massey, S., & Athreya, B. (2023). Youth for Youth: Raising the voices of children of incarcerated parents and implications for policy and practice. Journal of Community Psychology. Summarized By: Saniya Soni About this Study There is a growing population of young individuals in the U.S. who have experienced having a […]

New study explores how teacher-child relationships shape children’s educational expectations

Davis, A. L., & McQuillin, S. D. (2023). Exploring changes in the teacher-child relationship and children’s educational expectations. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 87, 101564. Summarized by Saniya Soni About this Study Student-teacher relationships play a crucial role in children’s development. Children who perceive their teachers as caring and supportive tend to adapt better to […]

Nurturing School Climate: The Power of Teacher and Peer Support for Empowering Victimized Youth

Coyle, S., Weinreb, K. S., Davila, G., & Cuellar, M. (2022). Relationships matter: The protective role of teacher and peer support in understanding school climate for victimized youth. In Child & Youth Care Forum (Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 181-203).  Summarized by Ellen Parry Luff About the Study A positive and supportive school climate has […]

The golden years glow: Older adults draw more positivity from prosocial behavior

Bjälkebring, P., Västfjäll, D., Dickert, S., & Slovic, P. (2019). Greater emotional gain from giving in older adults: Age-related positivity bias in charitable giving. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1-8. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00846. Summarized by Justin Preston Introduction It has been well-demonstrated that prosocial behavior has positive benefits for both the recipient and the giver. From receiving […]

Unlocking social success: High school program empowers adolescents with ADHD

Evans, S. W., DuPaul, G. J., Benson, K., Owens, J. S., Fu, Q., Cleminshaw, C., … & Margherio, S. (2023). Social Functioning Outcomes of a High School-Based Treatment Program for Adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 1-16. Summarized by Ellen Parry Luff About the Study This study focuses on a new […]

Army soldier putting his palm on top of his son and wife hands

Predicting Pandemic Pressures: Factors Shaping COVID-Related Stress in Military Families

Drew, A. L., Gregus, S. J., Steggerda, J. C., Slep, A. M. S., Herrera, C., Cavell, T. A., & Spencer, R. (2023). Pre-existing parental stress and youth internalizing symptoms predict parent-reported COVID-related stress in military families. Military Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2023.2187165 Summarized by Ariel Ervin About the Study COVID-19 significantly disrupted family routines and their access to […]

The Power of Mentoring and Employment Assistance for Youth in Foster Care

Leathers, S., Holtschneider, C., Ludington, M., Ross, E. V., & Barnett, J. L. (2023). Mentoring, Employment Assistance, and Enhanced Staff Outreach for Older Youth in Care: Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Children and Youth Services Review, 107095. Summarized by Ellen Parry Luff About the Study This study investigated the effectiveness of the Adult Connections […]

New study explores how teacher-student bonds can promote wellbeing

Whitaker, R. C., Dearth-Wesley, T., Herman, A. N., Benz, T. L., Saint-Hilaire, S. A., & Strup, D. D. (2023). The Association Between Teacher Connection and Flourishing Among Early Adolescents in 25 Countries. The Journal of Early Adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316231190828 Summarized by Ariel Ervin About the Study With adolescents’ mental health declining worldwide, there is an urgent […]

Forever Bonds: The Power of Enduring Relationships for Youth Leaving Foster Care

Cartoon girl sadly resting her head on her bent knees with speech bubbles surrounding her indicating sadness/depression

Navigating the College Mental Health Landscape: Underrepresented Students in Focus

Kook, Y., Le, T. P., Robey, N., & Raposa, E. B. (2023). Mental health and resource utilization among underrepresented students transitioning to college in the United States. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000496 Summarized by Saniya Soni About the Study Despite 35% of job openings requiring a bachelor’s degree, the American […]