The impact of mentors on foster care youth in transition

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的F31是研究议程的第一步，调查青年精神障碍的导师关系。 围绕精神障碍最初发作的重点调查，以及支持关系的影响（例如，辅导），构成了一个心理社会议程，以补充最近的药理学进展，为青年发展精神障碍。 该研究提案的重点是老年寄养青年，许多人有精神障碍，以及他们的自然导师的影响。 在过去十年中，人们发现辅导“问题”青年与积极成果有关。 然而，指导学者作出了最小的努力，调查这一资源过渡寄养青年，人口特别需要支持。 此外，指导研究只是最近才开始检查什么质量的指导关系促进这种结果。 这项对估计250名青年的自我报告调查（预计样本见第15页）将研究结构性因素（例如，持续时间）和核心质量（例如，利用创新措施建立指导关系。 这项横断面研究是目前资助的R 01的一部分，题为“离开寄养机构时老年青少年的心理健康和服务使用”（R 01 MH 61404），J. Curtis McMillen，PI 该提案的主要目的是：1）描述寄养系统中的青少年认为具有支持性的非亲属自然导师关系，2）研究这些关系促进积极成果的原因。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed F31 is a first step toward a research agenda investigating mentor relationships for youth with mental disorders. Focused investigation surrounding the initial onset of mental disorders, coupled with the influence of support relationships (e.g., mentoring), constitutes a psychosocial agenda to compliment recent pharmacological advancements for youth developing mental disorders. The research proposal focuses on older foster care youth, many who have mental disorders, and the influence of their natural mentors. Over the past decade, mentoring "at risk" youth has been found to be associated with positive outcomes. Yet, mentoring scholars have made minimal efforts to investigate this resource for transitioning foster care youth, a population with particular need for support. In addition, mentoring studies have only recently begun examining what qualities of the mentoring relationship promote such outcomes. This self-report survey of an estimated 250 youth (see page 15 for projected sample) will examine structural factors (e.g., duration) and the core qualities (e.g., engagement) of mentoring relationships utilizing an innovative measure. This cross-sectional study is part of a currently funded R01, entitled Mental Health and Service Use of Older Adolescents as they Leave Foster Care (R01 MH 61404), J. Curtis McMillen, P.I. The broad aims of the proposal are: 1) To describe the non-kin natural mentor relationships youth from the foster care system perceive as supportive and 2) To examine what about these relationships promotes positive outcomes.