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Someone Who ‘Gets’ Me: Adolescents’ Perceptions of Positive Regard from Natural Mentors

Ben-Eliyahu, D., Sykes, L. A. Y., & Rhodes, J. E. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning. (2021-12-31)

Background

A survey of 1,860 15-year-olds from across the United States found that mentees’ perceived positive regard from caring adults was associated with a range of personal, school, and civic outcomes. A structural equation modeling analysis found that for youth who have a mentor or other caring adults that they feel gets them, this perceived positive regard was positively related to youth’s sense of purpose and effort in school.