engleski

Characteristics of natural mentoring relationships as predictors of positive youth development

Relationships with caring adults known as natural mentors can enhance positive youth development (Bowers et al., 2014). An important question is which characteristics of these relationships are most important for the positive development of youth. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine how certain structural and quality characteristics of adolescents’ natural mentoring relationships contribute to adolescent positive development. Participants were 277 adolescents from Croatia (57% of girls) with mean age 16.5 years. Adolescents completed the Inventory of positive youth development (Arnold, Nott, & Meinhold, 2012), the Inventory of socially supportive behaviours (Barrera, 1981), and for the purpose of this study, a constructed scale of closeness in their relationships with natural mentors. Adolescents also provided data on the sociodemographic characteristics of their mentors (age, gender, education, employment status, occupation, the social role of mentor for an adolescent). The result showed that most adolescents (80.5%) have a natural mentor in their life, most of the same gender as adolescent and someone who is a family relative. Adolescents value these relationships highly and see their mentors as role models. The adolescents’ natural mentoring relationships are mostly long-lasting (average length is 10 years) and characterized by a high frequency of contact. The relationships are also characterized by high support and closeness (mutuality and disclosing). Adolescents are very satisfied with these relationships and valued them highly. The results of the regression analysis show that significant predictors of positive adolescent development are the gender of adolescents, the education level of mentors, mutuality and the frequency of conflict. Positive youth development is more expressed in girls, and positive predictors are higher levels of mentors’ education, higher sense of mutuality in the relationship, and lower frequency of conflict.

natural mentoring, relationship characteristics, adolescents, positive youth development

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