Youth Initiated Mentoring: Evidence from a Meta-Analytic Study

Van Dam, L., Blom, D., Kara, E., Assink, M., Stams, G. J., Schwartz, S., & Rhodes, J. (2021). Youth initiated mentoring: A meta-analytic study of a hybrid approach to youth mentoring. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50(1), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-020-01336-5

Introduction

Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM) is a hybrid model in which youth identify and recruit mentors from their own networks, supported by program scaffolding. This approach addresses limitations of formal mentoring, such as volunteer shortages and modest outcomes, while expanding access beyond the uneven reach of natural mentoring relationships.

Methods

Van Dam and colleagues (2021) synthesized findings from 14 studies with 11 independent samples, including 3,594 youth and 169 effect sizes. Outcomes spanned academic and vocational functioning, social-emotional development, physical health, and psychosocial problems. Using a three-level meta-analytic model, the authors tested overall effects and moderators such as gender, program design, and measurement source.

Results

YIM programs demonstrated a significant small-to-medium effect (g = 0.30), which increased to g = 0.40 after adjusting for selection bias. Impacts were consistent across domains, with stronger effects in predominantly female samples and in more recent studies. Outcomes reported by teachers, parents, or official records were larger than those reported by youth. Quasi-experimental studies showed stronger effects than randomized controlled trials.

Discussion

Compared to formal (g = 0.21) and natural mentoring (g = 0.22), YIM produced stronger effects, likely due to its targeted focus on at-risk youth and its integration within broader services. While the number of studies was limited, findings suggest YIM is an effective, scalable model for fostering enduring adult-youth relationships.

Implications for Mentoring Programs

Practitioners can use YIM to expand mentoring opportunities, particularly for marginalized youth with limited natural connections. Embedding YIM in schools, health care, or workforce programs, while training youth in mentor recruitment and relationship skills, may enhance both reach and impact.

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