Peer Mentoring with Child Mentors

A pragmatic systematic review of the current literature on peer mentoring was carried out.

This was conducted with the intention that the gathered findings would assist in the empirical investigation into the impact of peer mentoring with children.

39 of the identified 81 studies were sourced in full. A total of nine studies were identified as meeting the criteria relevant to the purpose and remit of the review.

It was clear that there were few studies that implemented research design and analysis appropriately in order to investigate the child mentor perspective.

The raising of confidence and self esteem of mentors was an important factor associated with mentoring and adolescent mentors improved in their interpersonal and personal skills. However, there was little focused research on the impact of peer mentoring on the child mentor.

50 children aged between nine and ten years old participated in an empirical research study. Children were sampled from three comprehensive schools in Kent County Council.

A quasi-experimental matched groups design was employed with 25 children in either the experimental or control condition.

The programme ran for 18 weeks, assessment data was taken at 6 week intervals Pre (time 1), Post (time 2) and Follow up (time 3).

The results indicated that child mentors pro bully attitudes reduced following peer mentor training and that these attitudes remained low after participating in a peer mentoring programme.

here were no significant improvements in child mentor's self-concept or pro social behaviour.

It would appear that peer mentoring could help to reduce pro bully attitudes and that participation as a child mentor, had neither a negative nor a positive impact upon children's general social and emotional well-being.