Peer-reviewed article
Nurturing the hope of youth in care: The contribution of mentoring.
Yafit Sulimani‐Aidan, Eran Melkman, Chan M. Hellman ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how mentoring relationships contribute to hope among adolescents aged 16-19 in residential care in Israel who are preparing to leave the system. The research found that mentoring length and specific mentor functions—acting as a role model, parental figure, and independence promoter—significantly predicted higher hope levels, even after accounting for individual characteristics and placement history. Lower parental education and welfare-based residential placement were associated with lower hope. The findings suggest that intentional mentor recruitment, selection for longevity, and training can meaningfully support hope in transitioning youth in care.
Key points
- Mentoring length and mentoring functions (role model, parental figure, independence promoter) significantly predict hope among youth in residential care
- Lower parental education levels are associated with decreased levels of hope
- Being in welfare residential placement is associated with decreased levels of hope
- Mentoring contributes to hope above and beyond related personal characteristics and placement history
- Residential care leaders should recruit mentors for longevity and train them to support independent living
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional and cannot establish causality or determine long-term outcomes for youth after leaving care. The sample is limited to Israel and may not generalize to other cultural or welfare contexts.
Abstract
Hope has long been viewed as important to individuals attempting to overcome obstacles. Overall hope is the combination of one's appraisal of capability and determination to achieve goals (Agency) and identifying viable routes to reach them (Pathway) (Snyder, 1994). The main goal of this study was to examine the incremental contribution of mentoring to hope among youth on the verge of leaving care above and beyond related personal characteristics and placement history. The sample included 148 adolescents in residential care in Israel who had adult mentors (ages 16-19). Results showed that lower levels of parental education and being in a welfare residential placement were associated with decreased levels of hope. Mentoring length and various mentoring functions ("role model," "parental figure," and "independence promoter") were found to have a significant contribution to the prediction of hope above and beyond associated individual and placement variables. Based upon these findings, residential care leaders should recruit and select mentors for longevity, and train mentors to serve as role models and parental figures who focus on independent living in order to influence hope among youth who are about to leave care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Mentoring relationships with trained adult mentors who serve as role models, parental figures, and independence promoters
- Population
- 148 adolescents aged 16-19 in residential care in Israel
Key finding
Mentoring length and functions significantly predict hope above and beyond individual and placement variables