“…In line with these perspectives, youth perceptions of the quality of their relationships with mentors assigned to them through programs such as Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) have been identified as a significant correlate of reduced aggression in high risk mentored youth (Cavell, Elledge, Malcolm, Faith, & Hughes, 2009), more effective coping strategies (Chesmore, Weiler, & Taussig, 2017), improved social skills (e.g., cooperation, self-control, assertiveness, empathy; Sale, Bellamy, Springer, & Wang, 2008), higher levels of scholastic competence, school bonding, and educational aspirations (Goldner & Mayseless, 2009;Liao & Sanchez, 2016;Rhodes, Reddy, Roffman, & Grossman, 2005;Zand et al, 2009), and improved interpersonal relationships with family and peers (Goldner & Mayseless, 2009;Thomson & Zand, 2010). In addition, high MRQ as reported by youth is correlated with widely acknowledged benchmarks for achieving program success such as longer and more stable mentoring relationships (often referred to as "matches") and matches with greater frequency and intensity of monthly contact (De Wit, DuBois, Erdem, Larose, Lipman, & Spencer, 2016;Rhodes, Schwartz, Willis, & Wu, 2017). Despite this evidence in support of a critical role for MRQ in mediating the benefits of youths' participation in mentoring programs, little is known of the underlying factors that contribute to their formation.…”