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，调查患有精神障碍的青少年的导师关系。围绕精神障碍最初发病的重点调查，加上支持关系(例如，指导)的影响，构成了一项心理社会议程，以补充最近治疗青少年精神障碍的药理学进展。这项研究建议重点关注老年寄养青年，他们中的许多人患有精神障碍，以及他们天然导师的影响。在过去的十年里，人们发现，指导“高危”青年与取得积极成果有关。然而，辅导学者只做了很少的努力来调查这一资源，以过渡寄养青年，这是一个特别需要支持的人群。此外，指导研究直到最近才开始研究指导关系的哪些品质会促进这样的结果。这项对大约250名青年的自我报告调查(预计样本见第15页)将利用创新的衡量标准来审查指导关系的结构性因素(例如持续时间)和核心品质(例如参与度)。这项横断面研究是目前资助的R01的一部分，题为《老年青少年离开寄养中心时的心理健康和服务使用》(R01，MH 61404)，J.Curtis McMillen，P.I.提案的广泛目标是：1)描述寄养系统中的年轻人认为是支持性的非亲属自然导师关系，2)检查这些关系如何促进积极的结果。

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.