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ERIC Number: ED639382
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 163
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3803-9111-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Voices of the Mentors: An Examination of Perceptions and Meaning-Making of Mentors in a Site-Based Program
Sheila R. Jacobs
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Arkansas Tech University
Although past studies of mentoring at-risk youth have yielded mixed results (Faith et al., 2011; DeWit et al., 2016), mentoring as an intervention for at-risk youth has increased in the past decade and has been supported by the United States Federal Government (Hughes, Boyd, & Dykstra, 2010; Gordon, Downey, & Bangert, 2013; Reddick, Griffin, & Cherwitz, 2011). Because studies focused on the perceptions and experiences of mentors are limited (Hughes et al., 2010; Haddock et al., 2017), and because of frequency of early mentor/mentee relationship termination (Grossman et al., 2012; Golder, 2016), this qualitative study sought to capture and understand the voices of the mentors. Using in-depth interviews, program training materials, and written reflections by the mentors, this study explored the perceptions, experiences, and meaning-making of 11 college students who had volunteered to mentor at-risk K-12 youth for a minimum of two years. The study's setting was a 33-year-old site-based mentoring program in Russellville, Arkansas, known as Age to Age. Findings in the study relate to (a) motivations to begin and continue mentoring; (b) role conceptualization; (c) benefits and challenges of mentoring; (d) overcoming the challenges of mentoring; (e) meaning assigned to mentoring; and (f) how mentors experienced program components and processes. Findings may inform mentor recruitment, training, retention and may also inform educational leaders who work with at-risk youth. The theoretical underpinning for this study was Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2017). The study also implicates the importance of understanding rejection sensitivity (McDonald et al., 2010; Grossman et al., 2012). [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arkansas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A