LoSciuto, L., Rajala, A. K., Townsend, T. N., & Taylor, A. S. (1996). An outcome evaluation of Across Ages: An intergenerational mentoring approach to drug prevention. Journal of Adolescent Research, 11(1), 116–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743554896111007

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 562

Population:

• Age — Mentors: 55 years and older, Youth: 6th grade (approx. 10-12 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — Mentors: Not specified; Youth: 52% African American, 16% White, 14% Other, 9% Asian, and 9% Hispanic
• Gender — Mentors: Not specified, Youth: 53% Female and 47% Male
• Status — Participants were high-risk youth.

Location/Institution: Philadelphia, PA

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
This purpose of the study was to evaluate the Across Ages program. Measures utilized include the Reactions to Situations Involving Drug Use Scale, the Reactions to Stress or Anxiety Measure, the Self-perception Profile for Children Scale, the Measure of Substance Abuse, the Knowledge about Older People Scale, the Rand Well-being Scale, the Problem-Solving Efficacy Scale, and the Knowledge About Substance Abuse Scale. Classrooms were randomly assigned to a curriculum and community service condition (Program Group); Across Ages which is a curriculum, community service, and mentoring condition (Mentoring Group); or a Control Group. Results indicate attitudes toward older people were significantly better in the Across Ages group than the Program Group and the Control Group. No statistically significant difference in attitudes was found between the Program Group and the Control Group. Both the Across Ages group and the Program Group had significantly better knowledge about older adults than the Control Group. No statistically significant difference in knowledge was found between the groups that received Across Ages and the Program Group. Limitations include low population generalizability, lack of follow-up, and attrition rate.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Rogers, A. M., & Taylor, A. S. (1997). Intergenerational mentoring: A viable strategy for meeting the needs of vulnerable youth. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 28(1-2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1300/J083v28n01_15

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: Not specified

Population:

• Age — 6th grade (approx. 10–12 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were high-risk youth.

Location/Institution: Philadelphia, PA

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Across Ages. Three classrooms of 6th grade students were randomly assigned to three groups. One classroom received Across Ages (which included mentoring, a life skills curriculum taught by the classroom teacher, performing community service activities, and engaging parents in workshops to enhance positive parenting and involvement in school activities). A second classroom received the same as the above group with the exception of the mentoring piece. A third classroom which received no services was treated as a control group. Measures utilized include questionnaires that addressed reactions to stress and anxiety; self-perception; the Rand Well-being Scale; attitudes toward school, elders and the future; problem-solving efficacy; attitudes/knowledge about older people; overall frequency of substance use (for specific substances) during the past two months; persuasion to use specific substances; and knowledge about substance abuse. Results indicate that students in experimental groups, those in Across Ages and those without mentors, demonstrated statistically or marginally significant differences on 7 of the 9 measurement scales over students in the control group. In addition, scores on attitudes towards school; future and elders; feelings of well-being; frequency of drug use; and reactions to stress and anxiety were most favorable for those students who received Across Ages. Limitations include low population generalizability and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Taylor, A. S., Losciuto, L., Fox, M., Hilbert, S. M., & Sonkowsky, M. (1999). The mentoring factor: Evaluation of the Across Ages’ intergenerational approach to drug abuse prevention. Child & Youth Services, 20(1-2), 77–99. https://doi.org/10.1300/J024v20n01_07

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: 562

Population:

• Age — Mentors: Typically, 65-75 years; Youth: Middle school age (approx. 11–14 years)
• Race/Ethnicity — Mentors: Typically, African-American; Youth: 52% Black or African American, 16% White, 14% Other, 9% Asian-American, and 9% Hispanic
• Gender — Mentors: Not specified; Youth: 53% Female and 47% Male
• Status — Participants were high-risk youth.

Location/Institution: Philadelphia, PA

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The study used the same sample as LoSciuto et al. (1996). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Across Ages program in reducing adolescent drug abuse and to help older adults maintain active roles in their communities. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Positive Youth Development Curriculum (PYDC) and community service condition (Program Group); Across Ages (PYDC, community service, and mentoring) condition (Mentoring Group); or a Control Group which did not receive any program components. Measures utilized include the Reactions to Situations Involving Drug Use Scale, the Reactions to Stress or Anxiety Measure, the Self-perception Profile for Children Scale, the Measure of Substance Abuse, the Knowledge about Older People Scale, the Rand Well-being Scale, the Problem-Solving Efficacy Scale, and the Knowledge About Substance Abuse Scale. Results indicate that for students in the Program Group and Mentoring Group there were significantly more prosocial attitudes towards school, elders, and their own future. Additionally, students in the Mentoring Group showed improved attitudes about school, future, and elders, and a significant reduction in absenteeism. Results also indicate that students in the Mentoring Group who received ‘‘exceptional’’ mentoring attended school more frequently than students in the Program and the Control groups. Limitations include low population generalizability, attrition rate, and lack of follow-up.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: None.

Aseltine Jr, R. H., Dupre, M., & Lamlein, P. (2000). Mentoring as a drug prevention strategy: An evaluation of Across Ages. Adolescent & Family Health, 1(1), 11–20. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ631856

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trial
Number of Participants: Approximately 400

Population:

• Age — Not specified
• Race/Ethnicity — Not specified
• Gender — Not specified
• Status — Participants were low-income 6th grade youth.

Location/Institution: Springfield, MA

Summary: (To include basic study design, measures, results, and notable limitations)
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Across Ages program. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Across Ages (mentoring condition), the curriculum condition, or a control condition. Measures utilized include the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s National Youth Survey (NYS). Results indicate that participants in the Across Ages condition reported significantly higher levels of self-control, family bonding, and school bonding than participants in the curriculum or control condition. Additionally, participants in the Across Ages condition reported higher levels of self-confidence and cooperation than participants in the curriculum condition. At 6 months postintervention, the increased levels of self-control, family bonding, school bonding, and self-confidence were not observed in the Across Ages group. Limitations include attrition and reliability of self-reported measures.

Length of controlled postintervention follow-up: 6 months.