Posts

Creating birds of similar feathers: How emphasizing similarities can improve matches

Editors note: This study has important implications for mentoring and other PYD studies. The simple act of emphasizing similarities improves relationships and leads to better outcomes. This should be a routine part of describing the “why” behind matches, for both mentors and mentees.  Gehlbach, H., Brinkworth, M., King, A. M. , Hsu, L. M., McIntyre, […]

New research determines how long it takes to make a friend: Implications for mentors and programs

Posted by Rick Hellman, futurity.org It takes more than 200 hours before someone can be considered a close friend, according to a new study that explores how long it typically takes to move through the deepening stages of friendship. That means time spent hanging out, joking around, playing video games, and the like, says Jeffrey […]

How positive youth development programs foster self-regulation

Mueller, M., Phelps, E., Bowers, E., Agans, J., Urban, J., & Lerner, R. (2011). Youth development program participation and intentional self-regulation skills: Contextual and individual bases of pathways to positive youth development. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 1115-1125. Problem: Quality youth development (YD) programs have been shown to be a strong context for promoting positive outcomes. […]

New research highlights importance of mentor expectations in sustaining relationships

Spencer, R., Drew, A. L., & Kanchewa, S. S. (2017). Girls (and boys) just want to have fun: A mixed-methods examination of the role of gender in youth mentoring relationship duration and quality. Journal of Primary Prevention. doi: 10.1007/s10935-017-0494-3 Summarized by Justin Preston Background The findings from the literature on youth mentoring have shed light […]

New research identifies links between mentee strain and mentors’ response strategies

Wesely, J., Dzoba, N., Miller, H. & Rasche, C. (2016). Mentoring at-risk youth: An examination of strain and mentor response strategies. American Journal of Criminal Justice. DOI:10.1007/s12103-016-9353-7 Summarized by Justin Preston   Introduction Mentoring, in its various forms, has long been touted as a way of offering support and guidance to at-risk youth. While the […]

Personalized learning in schools has implications for mentoring programs too

By Emily Berman, for the Huffington Post Tara’s eyes lit up in a way I had not seen before. I could almost hear what she was thinking: “Felicia is amazing.” Felicia, a local organizer for the NAACP, had just given a talk to our students about how to make change and organize in their community. […]

Facing challenges, mentees can develop strengths too!

Posted by University of Arizona Children who grow up in high-stress environments may be at higher risk for learning or behavioral trouble, but new research suggests that their skills warrant more attention. Stress-adapted youth may possess traits—such as heightened vigilance, attention shifting, and empathic accuracy—that traditional learning and testing situations don’t tap into. These skills […]

Mentoring key piece of the puzzle in reducing STEM attrition

Written by Charlie Wood, the Christian Science Monitor As a freshman, Stephanie Mula found the University of Massachusetts’s engineering program “overwhelming.” A first-generation college student, she wasn’t sure what to expect, how to get the most out of her classes, or where to look for internships. Nevertheless, she went on to beat the odds of […]

Mentoring for youth and YA during reentry from confinement: A review of the research

Written by Justin Preston As part of an ongoing series, MENTOR’s National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC) asks prominent researchers to extensively review the existing literature in a specific area of mentoring in order to draw conclusions on what works and implications for mentoring practice. This time, we are going to highlight NMRC’s research review of […]

Mentoring capitalizes on on our best evolutionary tendencies to combat loneliness: New research

Posted by Steve Koppes New research has shown that reducing loneliness through meaningful connections can foster less self-centered, more pro-social behaviors, a finding that highlights the important role mentoring can play in reducing loneliness. The findings also suggest a positive feedback loop between the two traits: As increased loneliness heightens self-centeredness, the latter then contributes further […]