Independent studies have evaluated the impact of Big Brothers Big Sisters program offerings. Studies will be listed here for you to view and download as they become available. Feel free to check back from time to time to see what's new.
Public/Private Ventures (P/PV) Study Summary:
This study, completed in 1995, found that a Little Brother or Little Sister (a.k.a. a “Little”) who is matched for one year or more in a one-to-one friendship is more likely to graduate from high school, attend college and demonstrate more respect for adults. Littles are also more likely to avoid alcohol, drugs and violence. When compared with their peers, Little Brothers and Sisters are:
• 46% less likely to start using drugs
• 27% less likely to start drinking
• 52% less likely to skip a day of school
• more trusting of their guardians and less likely to lie to them.
Click here for a PDF version of the P/PV study.
Survey of Adult Littles conducted by Harris Interactive
®
(HI)
A study of Littles who are now adults conducted in 2009 for Big Brothers Big Sisters by Harris Interactive illustrates the long-term impact of having a Big:
- 62% perceive themselves to have achieved a higher level of success than their peers who did not have a Big
- 81% say their Big changed their perspective on what they thought possible in life
- 77% set higher goals than they would have on their own
- A significant majority say they learned right from wrong, the importance of helping others and other things they would not have otherwise learned
- 77% say they did better in school because of their Big and 52% agree that their Big kept them from dropping out of high school
- A significant majority say their relationship with their Big helped a lot in making better choices through their childhood and throughout adult life
Click here for a PDF version of the HI study.