Psychosocial profiles of youth who acquire a natural mentor during a school year

Bibliographic Data

ID15028992
AuthorsMatthew Hagler (0000-0003-4004-7412, University of Massachusetts Boston, corresponding author), Elizabeth B Raposa (0000-0001-8169-3862, College of William and Mary), Jean E Rhodes (0000-0002-1469-6948, University of Massachusetts Boston), Jean Rhodes (University of Massachusetts Boston)
Year2019
Volume23
Issue2
Pages144-152
Publication date2019-04-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueApplied Developmental Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1088-8691 • E-ISSN: 1532-480X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10888691.2017.1342539
OpenAlexW2735747394
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited48

Youth who form bonds with supportive, nonparent adults within their existing social networks (i.e., natural mentors) experience a range of positive outcomes, but a relatively minimal amount is known regarding the psychosocial factors that prospectively predict the formation of natural mentoring relationships. Analyzing longitudinal youth data from the waitlist control group of a formal mentoring intervention, the current study investigates the psychosocial factors that predict the acquisition of natural mentoring relationships. Of youth who reported not having a natural mentor at baseline (n = 193), ages 9 to 16 (M = 11.20, SD = 1.61), 46.1% acquired a natural mentor over a school year. A significant interaction between stress (i.e., the number of recent stressful life events) and prosocial peer engagement predicted the acquisition of a natural mentor. At low levels of stress, prosocial peer engagement significantly predicted a lower likelihood of acquiring a natural mentor. This negative association became less strong with increasing stress levels. These findings highlight the importance of addressing interactions among personal and contextual factors when examining natural mentorship. The current and future investigations of naturally occurring mentoring relationships can inform the development of community-based and contextually relevant mentoring interventions

Developmental psychology · Erikson's stages of psychosocial development · Intervention (counseling · Longitudinal study · Medical education · Mentorship · Natural (archaeology · Peer group · Peer mentoring · Positive Youth Development · Prosocial behavior · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Psychotherapist · Social support · Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Mentoring and Academic Development · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support

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