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Cited by 25Child Welfare and AdoptionChild Abuse and TraumaResilience and Mental Health

Mentoring relationship quality and maltreated children’s coping

Chesmore, Ashley A., Weiler, Lindsey M., Taussig, Heather N.·2017·American Journal of Community Psychology
DOI 10.1002/ajcp.12151
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Abstract

Coping strategies are believed to protect against the harmful effects of maltreatment on children's psychosocial outcomes. Caregivers are thought to be critical in helping children develop adaptive coping strategies, yet many maltreated children have poor and/or insecure relationships with their parents. A quality relationship with a caring, non-parental adult (e.g., a mentor), however, may be one strategy to promote healthy coping among maltreated children. Children (N = 154) in this study participated in a mentoring and skill-based program for maltreated preadolescents placed in foster care. Hierarchical regression was used to assess the association between children's reports of their relationship with their mentor at the end of the intervention and four coping strategies (i.e., Active, Support-seeking, Avoidance, and Distraction) 6 months following the intervention, while accounting for baseline coping strategies and other demographic factors. Above and beyond the covariates, better mentoring relationship quality was associated with children's greater use of Active and Distraction coping 6-month post-intervention. Mentoring relationship quality was not significantly associated with children's Avoidance or Support-seeking coping. The findings suggest that mentoring programs may be a fruitful approach to improving vulnerable children's coping skills. Healthy coping is hypothesized to protect against the harmful effects of maltreatment and to promote resilience in the face of multiple stressors (Banyard & Williams, ; Boxer & Sloan-Power, 2013; Cicchetti & Rogosch, 2009). It remains unclear, however, how best to promote positive coping among maltreated children, who are disproportionately exposed to numerous adverse childhood experiences (Raviv, Taussig, Culhane & Garrido, 2010). Theories of coping emphasize the importance of coping socialization through quality parent-child relationships (Kliewer et al., 2006; Skinner & Wellborn, ). Unfortunately, many maltreated children are exposed to poor quality and/or inadequate caregiving (Baer & Martinez, 2006), which may place them at risk for engaging in unhealthy or inappropriate forms of coping. It is reasonable to expect that positive relationships with other non-parental adults (e.g., mentors) would affect coping behaviors given the positive impact that quality relationships have on a myriad of emotional and behavioral child outcomes (DuBois, Portillo, Rhodes, Silverthorn & Valentine, 2011; Keller & Pryce, 2012; Thomson & Zand, ). Because children in foster care often transition in and out of schools and home environments, a quality relationship with a mentor (a consistent presence in the child's life) may be well suited to promote healthy coping strategies.

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  • The first approach to assess mentoring relationship quality employs versions of questionnaires adapted from the fields of psychotherapy, teaching, and parenting.

    “The first employs versions of questionnaires adapted from the fields of psychotherapy, teaching, and parenting.”

    From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [57]

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Authors
Chesmore, A. A., Weiler, L. M., & Taussig, H. N.
Affiliations
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • University of Denver (US)
Corresponding author
Chesmore, Ashley A.
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Community Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-08-09
Volume
60
Issue
1-2
Pages
229-241
ISSN
  • 0091-0562 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2770
DOI
10.1002/ajcp.12151
OpenAlex
W2743052213
Cited by
25
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5
FWCI
5.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Community Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Commons - DU (University of Denver) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (1K01 MH01972, 1 R21 802 MH067618, 1 R01 MH076919)
  • Kempestiftelserna
  • Pioneer Fund
  • Daniels Fund
  • Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
Keywords
child abuse, coping strategies, mentoring, relationship quality, foster care, active coping, support seeking, avoidance, distraction, resilience, preadolescents, adverse childhood experiences, parent-child relationship, child welfare services, transition to school, academic performance, social skills, self-regulation
MeSH terms
Mentoring, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Female, Foster Home Care, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Mentors, Regression Analysis, Socialization

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