What mentees bring: Relationship characteristics pre-mentoring and mentoring relationship satisfaction

Williamson, Supriya; Lawrence, Edith; Lyons, Michael D.; Deutsch, Nancy L.

doi:10.1177/0272431619891251

Cited by 15Mentoring and Academic DevelopmentYouth Development and Social SupportAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

What mentees bring: Relationship characteristics pre-mentoring and mentoring relationship satisfaction

Williamson, Supriya, Lawrence, Edith, Lyons, Michael D., Deutsch, Nancy L.·2020·The Journal of Early Adolescence

DOI 10.1177/0272431619891251

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Abstract

A critical mechanism through which mentors are thought to influence developmental outcomes is the mentee-mentor relationship. Attachment theories suggest that a mentee’s perceptions of other relationships in her life may impact the quality of the mentor-mentee relationship. This study tests this hypothesis. Data were drawn from a sample of 205 early adolescent girls who received a college-aged mentor through the Young Women Leaders Program for one academic year. In this exploratory study, we examine the association between mentees’ relationship characteristics (i.e., perceptions of, feelings about maternal and peer relationships) and mentoring relationship satisfaction. Results of multiple linear regressions revealed that less maternal quality communication and trust was associated with lower quality mentoring relationships (β = .258, p < .05). Higher levels of maternal alienation were associated with higher quality mentoring relationships (β = .241, p < .05). Results can inform mentor training to support strong mentoring relationships with girls experiencing a variety of attachment-related challenges with their mothers.

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Less maternal trust and quality communication predicted lower quality mentoring relationships among American adolescent female mentees in a short-term American program.
“Preliminary findings demonstrated that less maternal trust and quality communication predicted lower quality mentoring relationships among American adolescent female mentees in a short-term American program [152].”
From Unpacking Community-Based Youth Mentoring Relationships: An Integrative Review (2021) · cites this paper as [152]

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Authors: Williamson, S., Lawrence, E., Lyons, M. D., & Deutsch, N. L.
Affiliations: University of Virginia (US)
Corresponding author: Williamson, Supriya
ORCID: Williamson, Supriya
Lyons, Michael D.
Deutsch, Nancy L.
Venue: The Journal of Early Adolescence
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2019-12-05
Volume: 40
Issue: 7
Pages: 996-1022
ISSN: 0272-4316 (ISSN-L)
1552-5449
DOI: 10.1177/0272431619891251
OpenAlex: W2993266602
Cited by: 15
References: 51
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
FWCI: 1.89
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: The Journal of Early Adolescence (publishedVersion)
Funders: Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (Q184B070479)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mentoring and Academic Development
Social Sciences › Safety Research › Youth Development and Social Support
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords: mentoring relationships, relationship satisfaction, attachment theory, maternal communication, maternal trust, early adolescent girls, mentor training, peer relationships

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What mentees bring: Relationship characteristics pre-mentoring and mentoring relationship satisfaction

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