Informal Mentoring

Which characteristics predict the type of informal mentoring youth receive?

Gowdy, G., Fruiht, V., Tadese, H., & Rivera, M. (2022). One of these things is not like the other: Predictors of core and capital mentoring in adolescence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12627 Summarized by Megyn Jasman Notes of Interest:  Which characteristics predict the type of informal mentoring youth receive? Compared to formal mentoring relationships, […]

What’s the current state of formal and informal mentoring for sexual and gender minority youth?

Edwards, K. M., Scheer, J. R., & Mauer, V. A. (2022). Informal and formal mentoring of sexual and gender minority youth: A systematic review. School Social Work Journal, 47(1), 37–71. Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest:  Mentorships are known for promoting positive youth and have the potential to alleviate minority stressors. There’s a lack […]

How do ethnic identity and stress exposure affect Latinx adolescents in natural mentorships 

Raposa, E. B., Sánchez, B., O’Donnell, A., & Monjaras-Gaytan, L. Y. (2022). The roles of ethnic identity and stressors in natural mentoring support among Latinx adolescents. Applied Developmental Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2022.2062360 Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest: Many Latinx youths experience substantial stressors as they face challenges associated with youth development and identity exploration. Although there’s […]

How do contextual factors affect the accessibility to informal mentoring for underrepresented youths?

Gowdy, G., Palmer, M. T., Saastamoinen, M., & Rivera, M. (2022). Using a social work perspective to understand contextual factors impacting access to informal mentorship for under-resourced and minoritized youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00838-4 Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest: Informal, non-parental youth mentoring relationships promote a variety of positive youth […]

How informal mentors, relationship quality, & perceived barriers affect adolescents; decisions to disclose about dating violence?

Mapes, Ayla. R., & Cavell, T. A. (2021). Perceived barriers, relationship quality, and informal mentors: Adolescents’ preference for disclosing about dating violence. Journal of Community Psychology, 49(7), 2719–2737. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22666 Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest: Victims of adolescent dating violence (ADV) are at risk of experiencing a variety of negative outcomes that can worsen if they […]

New study explores the contexts, barriers, and motivations of friend’s parents and family friends as natural youth mentors

Christensen, K. M., & Poon, C. Y. S. (2021). Exploring Friend’s Parents and Family Friends as Natural Mentors for Youth: Contexts, Motivation, and Barriers. Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02153-5 Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest: Natural mentorships are a viable way to provide emotional, social, functional, and instrumental support for youth. Granovetter’s model is […]

students on steps

New Findings: Natural Mentoring Relationships Can Advance College Students’ Emotional Regulation and Mental Health

Thomas P. Le,Ti Hsu,Elizabeth B. Raposa (2021). Effects of natural mentoring relationships on college students’ metnal health: The role of emotion regulation. American Journal of Community Psychology. Abstract (from article) The transition to college involves a number of novel stressors for young adults and represents a period of heightened risk for the onset or worsening […]

[Webinar] Linking formal and informal mentoring in a holistic approach: European Mentoring Summit 2022

Date: May 18 – 20, 2022 ‘Linking formal and informal mentoring in a holistic approach is the main theme for the fourth European Mentoring Summit. Join this event to learn a) which conditions promote effective mentoring, b) what approaches are recommended in the field, and c) which methods, tools, organizational models, and activities European programs […]

When Teachers and School Counselors Become Informal Mentors, Students Thrive

By Madeline Will, Reprinted from the Education Week For years, the research has been clear: Teacher-student relationships matter. And now, a new working paper shines more light on just how important these relationships can be for students’ academic success. Some students form deep connections with their teachers, counselors, or athletic coaches, who are often the adults […]

Helping Those Who Need It the Least: Can Informal Mentoring Promotes Economic Upward Mobility?

Gowdy, G., Miller, D. P., & Spencer, R. (2021). Helping Those Who Need It the Least: A Counterfactual and Comparative Analysis of Whether Informal Mentoring Promotes Economic Upward Mobility for Low- and Middle-Income Youth. Youth & Society, 53(7), 1152–1180. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20959241 Summarized by Ariel Ervin Notes of Interest:  Parents’ income is a significant predictor of their offsprings’ income. Many […]