Entries by Jean Rhodes

Happy Mentors, Happy Programs

By Jean Rhodes Mentors are the lynchpin of successful youth and student mentoring programs, yet too many volunteers feel disillusioned when their motivations are misaligned and their expectations don’t match reality. In their new study, researchers Tereza Brumovská and Bernadine Brady (2024) found that mentors’ initial motivations varied, ranging from intrinsic—driven by  personal fulfillment—to extrinsic–driven […]

Tipping points and a path to more effective mentoring

By Jean Rhodes In a recent JAMA psychiatry paper, Boston University researchers described a very effective strategy for helping depressed, overwhelmed low-income young women engage in active problem solving. In just six 45 minute one-on-one sessions, the women learned how to discuss the daily “sticky points” in their lives and then, as the lead author […]

New book has lessons for mentors on how to inspire others

In his new book “Inspire,” Columbia Business School professor Adam Galinsky provides a comprehensive, research-based framework for understanding how mentors and other can become more inspiring across all domains of life.  According to Galinsky’s research, truly inspiring leaders excel in three key areas. First they are visionary – able to articulate an optimistic big picture […]

New Study Explores Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Empathy in Caring Relationships

Rubinet al., (2025).  (JMIR Preprints 18/01/2024:56529). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/preprints.56529  Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) have made the idea of raised the possiblitiy of AI providing support and companionship. Within this context, there is growing interest in whether AI can replicate empathy. AI chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly used in customer service, mental health support, […]

Rates of volunteerism are declining: What can mentoring programs do?

By Jean Rhodes Recent research indicates a dramatic decline in American volunteerism since 2021. The U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps (2023) reported that formal volunteer participation fell to 23.2% in 2021, the lowest recorded level in nearly two decades. This downward trend can  attributed to several factors, including economic pressures, shifting social behaviors, and the […]

New Study Highlights Mentoring as a Buffer Against Loneliness in Community College Students

A recent study by Diermeier and colleagues (2024) provides compelling evidence for the role of mentorship in combating loneliness among community college students. This research addresses a critical gap in our understanding of how institutional support mechanisms can promote student well-being and academic success. The researchers frame their investigation within the context of an emerging […]

New Research Suggests a Smarter Approach to Goal Setting

By Jean Rhodes Recent research has highlighted the benefits of goal-focused mentoring. Although efforts to develop strong mentor-youth relationships are certainly necessary, it appears equally important, in most cases, to center the relationship around goals. Research suggests that, relative to friendship approaches, targeted approaches can be twice as effective. These findings have led many mentoring […]

New study examines career mentoring for youth in juvenile justice system

Varghese, F. P., Bihm, E. M., Gibbons, C., Bull, C., Whitmire, J., Nolan, J., & Flores, L. T. (2024). Pilot study of career mentoring program for juveniles. Psychological Services, 21(1), 175-183. Gainful employment begins with positive career development during adolescence, yet paradoxically, justice-involved youth who most need career guidance typically receive the least access to […]

Can Platforms like Facebook Build Social Capital?: A Systematic Review

Ahmad, Z., Soroya, S. H., & Mahmood, K. (2023). Bridging social capital through the use of social networking sites: A systematic literature review. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 33(4), 473-489 Social networking sites (SNSs) have revolutionized how people develop and maintain social connections across diverse backgrounds. A comprehensive systematic review examines how […]

The Case for Trauma-Informed Mentoring

Summary of new chapter: Hagler, M., & Rhodes, J. (2024) Trauma-informed mentoring and related approaches.  In Boxer,(Ed). The Future of Youth Violence Prevention: A Mixtape for Practice, Policy, and Research. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. Youth referred to mentoring programs often come from backgrounds marked by adversity. A national survey found that 69% of […]