Validating a Mentoring Relationship Quality Scale

Abstract

Youth mentoring relationships have significant potential for promoting positive youth development. Nonetheless, the benefits derived from such relationships depend considerably on the length and quality of the bonds that are created between mentors and youth. Although some attention has been paid to youth's experience of relationship quality, few studies have focused on mentors' experience of relationship quality. In the context of a national sample of mentor and youth dyads in Big Brothers Big Sisters community-based mentoring programs (N = 5,222), the current study validated a new mentor-reported measure of relationship quality, explored associations between mentor and youth assessments of relationship quality, and investigated the capacity of early assessments of relationship quality to predict mentoring relationship duration. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Does having a similar disability matter for match outcomes?: A randomized study of matching mentors and mentees by visual impairment

“…Despite the lower reports on the strength of the mentoring relationship among mentors with VI, the smaller number of match meetings, and the shorter the durations of these meetings, mentees with VI felt their relationships were just as strong as relationships involving sighted mentors. This finding is not consistent with recent research that showed that a higher frequency of match meetings and longer lengths of match duration are associated with higher relationship quality (Eby et al., ; Herrera et al., ; Rhodes et al., ). Perhaps practical limitations, such as restrictions in mobility, orientation, and fatigue, limit the ability of mentors with VI to meet more frequently and arrange meetings of longer duration with their mentees.…”

“…Strength of the relationship . We used a translated version of the 10‐item Youth Strength of Relationship Scale (Rhodes et al., ; e.g., “When I am with my mentor, I feel safe”) to assess mentee's perceptions of the strength of their mentoring relationships. Participants rated the answers on a 5‐point Likert scale ranging from 1 ( strongly disagree ) to 5 ( strongly agree ).…”

“…Match outcomes including the strength of a mentoring relationship and relationship quality are important predictors of youth outcomes. Specifically, mentees in high-quality matches have better outcomes (Erdem, DuBois, Larose, Wit, & Lipman, 2016;Rhodes, Schwartz, Willis, & Wu, 2014), including better relationships with parents and teachers (Chan et al, 2013), and peers (Karcher, 2008), than mentees in lower quality relationships. In addition to the effect of the strength of the mentoring relationship on youth outcomes, match duration also is an important factor for determining match effect.…”

Predictors of mentoring relationship quality: Investigation from the perspectives of youth and parent participants in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada one‐to‐one mentoring programs

“…A closer inspection of the data revealed that youth provided the highest ratings followed by parents. Elevated levels of MRQ among youth relative to mentor reports have been reported in other work (e.g., Goldner & Mayseless, 2009;Rhodes, Schwartz, Willis, & Wu, 2017). Mentored youth may harbor unrealistic expectations of an immediate deepening of the mentoring relationship or an intense desire to see it succeed (Goldner & Mayseless, 2009) and therefore may be willing to downplay negative experiences while attributing positive qualities to their mentors.…”

“…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.…”