This study examined the effectiveness of LET’s CONNECT (LC), a community mentorship program based on the positive youth development model. Participants were 218 youth (66.5% girls), ages 12 to 15, who reported peer victimization, bullying perpetration, and/or low social connectedness. These youth were randomized to LC or the control group (community resource information). The LC program linked youth to community mentors who connected with youth and facilitated their involvement in social growth activities across a 16-month period. Outcomes were assessed at 6 and 16 months with self-report measures of social and community connectedness, thwarted belongingness, depression, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation and behavior. In intent-to-treat analyses, LC was associated with modest positive effects for social connectedness, self-esteem, and depression. It had no effects on suicidal ideation or behavior. Results suggest that LC has the potential to positively impact the developmental trajectories of youth dealing with the interpersonal challenges of victimization, bullying perpetration, or low social connectedness. LC implementation challenges and directions for further research are also discussed.

中文翻译：

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LET's CONNECT 针对有同伴社会问题的青少年的社区指导计划：一项随机干预试验

本研究检验了 LET's CONNECT (LC) 的有效性，这是一个基于积极的青年发展模式的社区指导计划。参与者是 218 名青年（66.5% 是女孩），年龄在 12 到 15 岁之间，他们报告了同伴受害、欺凌行为和/或低社会联系。这些年轻人被随机分配到 LC 或对照组（社区资源信息）。LC 计划将青年与社区导师联系起来，这些导师与青年建立联系，并促进他们在 16 个月的时间里参与社会成长活动。结果在 6 个月和 16 个月时通过自我报告的社会和社区联系、受挫的归属感、抑郁、自尊以及自杀意念和行为的措施进行评估。在意向治疗分析中，LC 与社会联系、自尊和抑郁的适度积极影响相关。它对自杀意念或行为没有影响。结果表明，LC 有可能对青少年的发展轨迹产生积极影响，以应对受害、欺凌行为或低社会联系等人际关系挑战。还讨论了 LC 实施挑战和进一步研究的方向。