The Research — Velora Coaching

Evidence-Based Coaching

The research is clear.

Today's young adults are navigating one of the most under-supported transitions in modern life. These are the studies, surveys, and data that show why — and why coaching changes the outcome.

83%
of young professionals say having a mentor is crucial to their career development
Adobe
52%
actually have one — a gap of more than 30 points between need and reality
Adobe
57%
of college students feel lonely — 4× more likely to experience severe psychological distress
Trellis Strategies, 2026
75%
of adults who had a mentor say that relationship was a major contributor to their success in life
Mentoring.org

Velora didn't emerge from a theory. It emerged from a gap — the space between what school teaches and what life actually requires. Young adults who spent formative years navigating a pandemic are arriving at work and adulthood with real, measurable shortfalls in the skills, connections, and confidence that shape what happens next.

The research below — from peer-reviewed journals, national surveys, and leading institutions — confirms what we see every day. The good news: mentorship and coaching are consistently among the most effective and cost-efficient interventions available at every stage.

In High School

The critical window for identity, confidence, and direction

Research consistently identifies high school as the developmental period where career identity, self-efficacy, and resilience are formed — or not. What gets built here shapes everything that follows.

Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Skills and Career Adaptability in High School Students
A study of 350 high school seniors found that self-management, social engagement, emotional resilience, and cooperation directly predicted career confidence and a sense of control over their futures — the exact skills not taught in most classrooms.
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Thirty Years of Data Reveal the Long-Term Impact of Youth Mentorship
A landmark re-analysis of 30 years of data found that mentorship in adolescence is one of the most cost-effective interventions available — with measurable increases in earnings, social outcomes, and life success tracked all the way to age 30.
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Personal Identity and Social Identity Among High School Students: A Longitudinal Study
Longitudinal research shows that a firm sense of identity built during high school predicts successful adjustment to work and higher education in young adulthood — and is directly linked to life satisfaction years later.
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A Systematic Review on Career Interventions for High School Students
Structured career and mentoring interventions during high school have demonstrably positive effects on post-secondary readiness — and the absence of those interventions carries lasting costs.
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Mentoring Impact: The Research
75% of Americans who had a mentor growing up say that relationship was a major contributor to their success in life. Mentored youth show stronger academic outcomes, higher earnings in adulthood, and a greater sense of belonging.
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In College

Loneliness, skills gaps, and a transition no one prepares you for

College is supposed to be where it all comes together — but for a generation that spent much of it on screens, the data tells a different story. The gap between what college teaches and what employers need has never been wider.

Is Student Loneliness the New Normal?
A national survey of nearly 44,000 college students found that 57% feel lonely — and only 15% say they never do. Researchers specifically named peer mentorship programs as the structural response most likely to help.
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The Correlation Between Loneliness and Student Mental Health
College students who feel lonely are over 4 times more likely to experience severe psychological distress. More than 28% report feeling isolated — a belonging deficit that mentoring is uniquely positioned to close.
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The Soft Skills Gap: Why Graduates Struggle to Stand Out
Only 51.5% of undergrads identify problem-solving as a critical skill — while 88.3% of employers say it's essential. Nearly two-thirds of employers now hire on skills, but students aren't being taught how to demonstrate them.
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Employers Say Students Aren't Learning Soft Skills in College
"What's the formal way to write an email? How do I talk to my manager? That was never taught to me." A firsthand account from a recent graduate — backed by nationwide employer data confirming the gap is structural, not individual.
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The Impact of Mentoring in Higher Education on Student Career Development: A Systematic Review
A review of 73 papers spanning four decades finds that mentoring in college consistently produces stronger career self-efficacy, clearer career intentions, and more successful transitions into employment.
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In the Workplace

The most disengaged workforce in a decade — and what actually works

Young adults who spent their formative years in a pandemic are arriving at work underprepared — not because they aren't capable, but because nobody built the bridge. Mentoring and coaching are the bridge.

US Employee Engagement Falls to a 10-Year Low
Only 31% of U.S. employees are engaged at work — the lowest since 2014. Young workers under 35 dropped 5 points in a single year, with sharp declines in feeling recognized, knowing what's expected, and feeling that anyone at work genuinely cares about them.
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The Skills Gap: Why Development Should Be a Priority in 2025
9 in 10 young workers report experiencing social discomfort at work. Only 1 in 4 feel confident networking. The post-pandemic generation entering the workforce has had "a completely upside-down experience of work" — and structured mentoring is the most direct fix.
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The Soft Skills Dilemma in the Workplace
Employers consistently report gaps in communication, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution among today's young hires. The pandemic and digital-first upbringing limited the in-person social development these skills require.
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Mentoring Will Close the Growing Skills Gap Crisis
Mentoring programs produce an average 43% increase in retention. Fortune 500 companies with mentoring programs showed 3% employee growth during the Great Resignation — those without saw a median 33% decrease in headcount.
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Workplace Mentorship: Meeting the Needs of a Multigenerational Workforce
Today's workforce is the most generationally diverse in history. Framing mentorship as a pathway to skill development and leadership strengthens engagement, builds confidence, and increases retention.
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True Gen: This Generation and Its Implications for Companies
McKinsey's foundational research on today's young adults: they are pragmatic, values-driven, and seeking authenticity in their work and relationships. Coaching and mentorship align directly with how this generation builds trust, identity, and professional confidence.
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Ready to close the gap

The gap is real.
So is the solution.

If you're a young adult ready to build the skills that actually move the needle — or an organization looking to invest in your people — let's talk.

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