Research suggests that mentoring programs may promote a range of positive outcomes in youth populations. Less is known, however, about the extent to which such programs are effective in specialized youth populations, such as youth involved in the foster care system. The current study aimed to investigate the extent to which mentoring interventions promote positive outcomes among youth involved in the foster care system and to systematically explore factors that may moderate the effectiveness of mentoring interventions. Using a multilevel meta-analytic approach, this study estimated the effect size of nine formal mentoring programs in the United States serving youth involved with the foster care system (total n = 55,561). Analyses revealed a small-to-medium-sized overall effect (g = 0.342). Moderator analyses revealed weaker effects for studies containing higher proportions of youth with emotional abuse histories. Programs deploying near-peer mentors were more than twice as effective as intergenerational mentors. The findings highlight the salience of emotional abuse history, suggesting the utility of providing mentor trainings in trauma-informed care for this population.

研究表明，指导计划可能会促进青年群体的一系列积极成果。然而，关于此类计划对特殊青年群体（例如参与寄养系统的青年）的有效程度知之甚少。目前的研究旨在调查指导干预在多大程度上促进了参与寄养系统的青年的积极成果，并系统地探索了可能会影响指导干预有效性的因素。本研究使用多层次元分析方法估计了美国九个正式指导计划的影响大小，这些计划为参与寄养系统的青年提供服务（总共n  = 55,561）。分析揭示了中小型整体效应（g = 0.342）。主持人分析显示，对于包含较高比例的有情绪虐待历史的青年的研究，效果较弱。部署近同行导师的计划比代际导师有效两倍多。研究结果突出了情感虐待历史的显着性，表明为该人群提供创伤知情护理的导师培训的实用性。