Abstract
BackgroundYouth with chronic physical health problems often experience social and emotional problems. We investigate the relationship between participation in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada community-based mentoring programs (BBBS) and youth social and mood outcomes by youth health status.MethodsYouth newly enrolled in BBBS were classified by health status (one or more chronic physical health problems without activity limitation, n = 191; one or more chronic physical health problems with activity limitation, n = 94; no chronic health problem or activity limitation, n = 536) and mentoring status (yes/no) at 18 month follow-up. Youth outcomes measured at follow-up were social anxiety, depressed mood, and peer self-esteem.ResultsYouth with chronic health problems and activity limitation were more likely to live with two biological parents, use mental health or social services, and have parents who reported difficulties with depressed mood, social anxiety, family functioning and neighbourhood problems. At 18 month follow-up, mentored youth in this health status group experienced fewer symptoms of social anxiety and higher peer self-esteem compared to non-mentored youth. Mentored youth with chronic health problems without activity limitation and mentored youth with no health problems or limitations did not show significant improvements in social anxiety and peer self-esteem. Regardless of their health status, mentored youth reported fewer symptoms of depressed mood than non-mentored youth.ConclusionsYouth with chronic health problems, particularly those with activity limitation as well, demonstrate a capacity to experience social and mood benefits associated with mentoring.
Highlights
Youth with chronic physical health problems often experience social and emotional problems
We investigate the relationship between mentoring status and selected mental health outcomes for youth in three health status groups participating in a national study of Canadian Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) community-based mentoring program
Youth with one or more chronic health problems with activity limitation were significantly more likely than youth in the other health status groups to live with both biological parents and use services
Summary
Youth with chronic physical health problems often experience social and emotional problems. Prevalence estimates have doubled [1], with up to one in four youth experiencing a chronic illness [2] Some of these youth experience difficulties with school attendance and performance (e.g., [3, 4]), as well as social, emotional and behavioral problems [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. We know little about how best to assist with emotional, behavioral and social difficulties among youth with chronic health problems. Programs offered some or all of leadership activities, life skills development and sustained relationships with adult mentors and evaluated medical, health care transition, and other varied psychosocial outcomes. *p < .05 for post-hoc comparisons aone or more chronic physical health conditions and no activity limitation bone or more chronic physical health conditions and an activity limitation cneither a chronic physical health condition or activity limitation dEstimated percentage eEstimated mean value
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