New Study Explores Mentor’s Self-Efficacy Trajectories During a Mentoring Program for At-Risk Youth
Boat, A.A., Weiler, L.M., Bailey, M. et al. Mentor’s Self-Efficacy Trajectories During a Mentoring Program for At-Risk Adolescents. J Primary Prevent 40, 575–589 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-019-00566-z
Introduction
An essential yet often overlooked factor influencing mentorship success is the mentor’s own belief in their ability to make a difference. Self-efficacy, a concept rooted in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, refers to an individual’s confidence in their ability to influence outcomes through their efforts. In the context of youth mentoring, self-efficacy is particularly crucial; shaping mentors’ persistence, engagement, and ability to build meaningful relationships with their mentees. Boat and colleagues (2019) delve into this idea, examining the trajectories of mentor self-efficacy over time and identifying the factors that contribute to its growth or decline.
Methods
238 mentors and their mentees enrolled in Campus Connections, a structured mentoring intervention that pairs undergraduate students with at-risk youth, participated. Mentors reported on their self-efficacy at five time points over the 12-week program.
Results
Several trajectories were identified:
- The Increasing Group: These mentors started with high self-efficacy, which continued to rise over time.
- The Stable Group: This group maintained consistently high self-efficacy throughout the program.
- The Decreasing Group: These mentors began with moderate self-efficacy but experienced a decline as the program progressed.
Personality traits played a significant role in predicting these trajectories. Mentors with higher levels of conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness were more likely to belong to the increasing self-efficacy group, whereas mentors with higher emotionality (a trait linked to anxiety and stress sensitivity) were more likely to experience a decline in self-efficacy over time. Interestingly, mentee risk levels did not significantly impact mentor self-efficacy trajectories, suggesting that mentor confidence is more strongly influenced by internal factors than by external challenges.
Additionally, self-efficacy growth was associated with stronger mentoring relationships. Mentors in the increasing self-efficacy group reported higher-quality bonds with their mentees, as did the youth themselves. This finding underscores the importance of fostering mentor confidence, as it directly influences the strength and success of the mentoring relationship.
Implications for Mentoring Programs
Given that personality traits such as conscientiousness and extraversion are linked to self-efficacy growth, program administrators might consider screening for these traits during the mentor selection process. However, rather than excluding potential mentors who score lower on these traits, targeted training and support could be provided to help them build confidence in their mentoring abilities.
Additionally, real-time coaching, peer support groups, and structured reflection opportunities could help mentors navigate challenges and reinforce their belief in their ability to foster positive change. Programs that monitor their mentors sense of self-efficacy may be able to provide timely support and enhance mentoring relationship strength.
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