Health Effects of Mentoring

Pilot Study of Physical Health Effects of Cities Mentor Project

The purpose of this study is to determine whether mentoring is associated with beneficial cardiovascular health effects in both mentors and mentees.

Participants are randomly assigned to either being a mentor or a wait list control. These participants are drawn from a population of undergraduate students. Participants are also randomly assigned to either being a mentee or a wait list control. These participants are drawn from a population of Chicago Public School children. In total, there will be 30 mentors, 30 control mentors, 30 mentees, and 30 control mentees. Participants will come for a laboratory visit in which cardiovascular health measures will be taken (details below). Visits will occur once at baseline (before the intervention starts), and once post-intervention. The protocol will be the same at the two study visits. Participants in the intervention group will engage in one-on-one mentoring sessions (between mentors and mentees) once a week after school for the school year

Inclusion Criteria:

• Undergraduate student for mentors.
• Chicago Public School student for mentees.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Younger than 9 or older than 14 for mentee conditions.