DOI: 10.3886/icpsr37206.v1
title: Assessing the Impact of Parental Characteristics, Parental Attitudes, and Parental Engagement on Mentoring Relationship Outcomes, Louisville, Kentucky, and Kentuckiana, 2014-2017
title: Version 1

description: In October 2013, the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBS-KY), was funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to implement a mentoring research best practices project that explored whether three types of parent/guardian level variables (psychosocial parent/family characteristics, parent engagement in the mentoring match, and parenting style) influence match quality, match length, and youth outcomes. This study was designed to describe these factors, as well as investigate how these factors impact match length, match strength, and youth program outcomes. Data to inform both objectives was collected using a longitudinal multimode approach with youth, mentors and parents in the BBBS-KY program in the metro Louisville area. In addition, data from 16 local school districts provided measures of academic performance, school attendance, and disciplinary suspensions. Data were collected at multiple time points from youth, volunteer mentors, and parents/guardians. These data included BBBS-America standard surveys (Youth Outcomes Survey, and Volunteer and Youth Strength of Relationship Surveys). PIRE supplemented the standard BBBS data collection efforts with project-specific baseline volunteer mentor survey and several formative and outcome based inserts to supplement the data that was regularly collected from youth and mentors. The PIRE and BBBS-KY teams also created a project-specific parent/guardian survey to better understand the impact of parental factors on match dynamics and youth mentoring program outcomes. Due to low literacy levels of parents/guardians, this survey was administered as a mixed-mode, audio-computer assisted interview (ACASI). Additional data sources for this study included data from (a) coding of qualitative case review notes for selected aspects of matches by BBBS-KY match support specialists, (b) academic data collected from school districts, and (c) data collected on general match characteristics (e.g., match closure status) collected by BBBS-KY as part of their standard business operations. Most measures were collected early in the match (either match formation or three months into the match) and at 12 months into the match.
description: The design and implementation of this project was guided by two objectives: (1) to assess parental/family characteristics, dynamics of parent-youth relationships, and the levels and dynamics of parental involvement in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBS-KY) matches; and (2) to assess the impact of parental/family characteristics, dynamics of parent-youth relationships, levels of parental involvement in BBBS-KY matches, and the dynamics of parental involvement in matches on (a) match length and strength and (b) on youth program outcomes. In order to guide analysis and reporting efforts, these objectives were further refined into four research questions and associated sub-questions: Research Question 1: What are the dynamics of relationships between parents/guardians and youth? Research Question 1, Sub-Question 1: What are the dynamics of relationships between parents/guardians and youth? Research Question 1, Sub-Question 2: Did youth-parent relationship dynamics change over the 12-month study period? Research Question 1, Sub-Question 3: Do youth-parent relationship dynamics vary across community-based and site-based matches? Research Question 2: What are the expected and actual levels of parental involvement in study matches? Research Question 2, Sub-Question 1: What are the expected and actual levels of parental involvement in study matches, including communication frequency and modalities? Research Question 2, Sub-Question 2: How do the expected and actual levels of parental involvement in study matches differ by the type of match? Research Question 3: Are parent/guardian factors and parental involvement in the match are related to match length or match strength? Research Question 3, Sub-Question 1: Are parent/family characteristics, dynamics of relationships between parents/guardians and youth, volunteers, and levels of parental involvement in BBBS-KY matches, related to the length of matches made by BBBS-KY? Research Question 3, Sub-Question 2: Are parent/family characteristics, dynamics of relationships between parents/guardians, youth, volunteers, and levels of parental involvement in BBBS-KY matches related to the reported strength of relationship between youth and volunteers? Research Question 3, Sub-Question 3: Does the impact of these factors on match length and strength vary by match type? Research Question 4: Assess whether parent/guardian factors and parental involvement in the match are related to mentoring program outcomes for youth? Research Question 4, Sub-Question 1: Are parent/family characteristics, dynamics of relationships between parents/guardians, youth, volunteers, and levels of parental involvement in BBBS-KY matches related to youth outcomes? Research Question 4, Sub-Question 2: Does the impact of these factors on youth outcomes vary by program type?
description: To inform the project's research questions, data were collected at multiple time points from youth, volunteer mentors, and parents/guardians. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBS-KY) follows the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of America standard protocols, which includes the completion of surveys for youth and mentors that were designed by the national office for use by BBBS chapters. These instruments include a Youth Outcomes Survey (YOS) and Strength of Relationship Surveys for both youth (YSOR) and volunteer mentors (MSOR). The YOS is completed by the youth prior to matching with a volunteer and again 12 months after the match is activated. At the 3-month post-match mark, Strength of Relationship Surveys are conducted with both the mentor (MSOR) and the youth (YSOR). These surveys are conducted again after the match has reached the 12-month mark (or at the end of the school year for site based matches). Responses to these mentor and youth surveys are entered into the BBBS-KY AIM database system. The AIM database also includes background data collected during the application, screening, and interviewing processes for the youth, his/her primary guardian, and the potential volunteer. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) supplemented the standard BBBS data collection efforts with project-specific baseline volunteer mentor survey and a number of formative and outcome based inserts to supplement the data that was regularly collected from youth and mentors. The PIRE and BBBS-KY teams also created a project-specific parent/guardian survey to better understand the impact of parental factors on match dynamics and youth mentoring program outcomes. In addition to the survey data, the project research questions were informed by record data provided by 16 area school districts and by case review data in which the BBBS data collection coordinator retrospectively by reviewed match case records in AIM for each of the 350 matches that participated in the project. Among the elements extracted from this review were agency records of parent/guardian participation in BBBS-KY match and/or family engagement activities.
description: Response Rates: Data were not available from all data sources for all participants, but data were available for most of the 350 matches for most of the data sources. The following list provides the percentage of the 350 participants with data at each wave, respectively. The great majority of participants had all data sources at both waves. Case Review (months 3 and 12): 97 percent and 97 percent Match History Detail (month 12): 100 percent Parent Survey (months 1 and 12): 95 percent and 87 percent School Data (months 1 and 12): 92 percent and 92 percent Volunteer at Match Survey (month 1): 99 percent Volunteer Strength of Relationship Insert Survey (months 3 and 12): 93 percent and 79 percent Volunteer Strength of Relationship Survey (months 3 and 12): 94 percent and 84 percent Youth Outcomes Insert Survey (months 1 and 12): 100 percent and 88 percent Youth Outcomes Survey (months 1 and 12): 100 percent and 91 percent Youth Strength of Relationship Insert Survey (months 3 and 12): 96 percent and 85 percent Youth Strength of Relationship Survey (months 3 and 12): 96 percent and 89 percent
description: Study subjects included 350 volunteer mentors, 350 matched youths between the ages of 8 and 17, and 350 matched parents who were recruited into the program between February 2014 and November 2015. These 350 matches represented those who had volunteer consent and parental self-consent, as well as parental consent provided for the youth and youth assent. Most matches were traditional community-based matches (66 percent) and the balance (34 percent) were either site-based or school-to-work matches. On average, parents were between 36 and 44 years old on average, youth nearly 12, and volunteers just over 30. Most youth were in 7th grade at the start of the match. When considering the entire sample (i.e., closure status is known for early forming matches), matches lasted just over a year (16 months) on average with some ending after the first month and others lasting nearly 3 years. Over three quarters of youth in the study received free or reduced price lunch and almost half of families were receiving public assistance. 62 percent of the parent sample reported being employed. Matches were followed longitudinally for a period of one year.
description: Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: Case Review DS2: Match History Detail DS3: Parent Survey DS4: School Data DS5: Volunteer at Match Survey DS6: Volunteer Strength of Relationship Insert Survey DS7: Volunteer Strength of Relationship Survey DS8: Youth Outcomes Insert Survey DS9: Youth Outcomes Survey DS10: Youth Strength of Relationship Insert Survey DS11: Youth Strength of Relationship Survey
description: Mentors and matched youths between the ages of 8 and 17 who were recruited into the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBS-KY) program between February 2014 and November 2015. Smallest Geographic Unit: None
description: audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI); record abstracts; computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI); mixed mode; paper and pencil interview (PAPI); on-site questionnaire; web-based survey