An ecological perspective of mentor satisfaction with their youth mentoring relationships

Suffrin, Rachael L.; Todd, Nathan R.; Sánchez, Bernadette

doi:10.1002/jcop.21785

Cited by 31Mentoring and Academic DevelopmentYouth Development and Social SupportCounseling Practices and Supervision

An ecological perspective of mentor satisfaction with their youth mentoring relationships

Suffrin, Rachael L., Todd, Nathan R., Sánchez, Bernadette·2016·Journal of Community Psychology

DOI 10.1002/jcop.21785

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Abstract

Research shows the benefits of mentoring in promoting positive youth development. Yet less is known about mentors and what predicts mentor satisfaction. Such knowledge is vital to understanding how to recruit and retain adult mentors for youth. Thus, in the current study, we examine mentors as embedded in a social ecology of relationships, such as relationships with their mentee, mentee's family, and mentoring organization they volunteer with. We use data from 247 mentors to test how each of these relationships (mentor with the mentee, mentee's family, and mentoring organization) independently and interactively predict mentor satisfaction. Findings indicate that all relationships are unique predictors of mentor satisfaction, and that relationships with the mentee's family and mentors’ mentoring organization interact in predicting mentor satisfaction. Overall, considering multiple relationships shows how various dimensions of the social ecology uniquely and interactively predict mentor satisfaction. Limitations and implications for mentoring practice are discussed.

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Mentor satisfaction with the mentee's family regarding the emotional tone of the relationship, communication, cooperation, and appreciation predicted mentors' satisfaction with the mentoring relationship, even after controlling for organizational support, mentors' cultural competence, and other personal characteristics in a long-term American program.
“Mentor satisfaction with the mentee’s family regarding the emotional tone of the relationship, communication, cooperation, and appreciation predicted mentors’ satisfaction with the mentoring relationship, even after controlling for organizational support, mentors’ cultural competence, and other personal characteristics in a long-term American program [181].”
From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [181]

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Authors: Suffrin, R. L., Todd, N. R., & Sánchez, B.
Affiliations: DePaul University (US)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
Corresponding author: Suffrin, Rachael L.
ORCID: Todd, Nathan R.
Sánchez, Bernadette
Venue: Journal of Community Psychology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2016-06-17
Volume: 44
Issue: 5
Pages: 553-568
ISSN: 0090-4392 (ISSN-L)
1520-6629
DOI: 10.1002/jcop.21785
OpenAlex: W2423663901
Cited by: 31
References: 37
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1
FWCI: 4.19
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal of Community Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mentoring and Academic Development
Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
Keywords: youth mentoring, mentor satisfaction, social ecology, mentoring relationships, family relationships, volunteer retention, positive youth development

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An ecological perspective of mentor satisfaction with their youth mentoring relationships

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