Taking care of youth mentoring relationships: Red flags, repair, and respectful resolution
Abstract
Mentoring is portrayed in the literature as benefiting young people, but ineffective or early termination of youth mentoring relationships can be detrimental. Researchers have not adequately explored issues surrounding the breakdown of youth mentoring relationships. Underpinned by a socio-ecological perspective, in this exploratory study we consider the various contexts within which these important relationships exist and identify early warning signs or red flags that a mentoring relationship is struggling. We interviewed mentees, mentors, and coordinators from four Western Australian youth mentoring programs about their experiences of mentoring relationships. Our findings suggest that red flags and repair strategies may be specific to particular programs, and that program coordinators play an important role in supporting relationships. Our research will help youth mentoring programs work toward early intervention strategies or appropriate and respectful termination of a relationship.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2017
Location of the Work
United Kingdom
Publication Title
Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning
Publisher
Routledge
School
School of Arts and Humanities
RAS ID
22280
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
MacCallum, J., Beltman, S., Coffey, A., & Cooper, T. (2017). Taking care of youth mentoring relationships: red flags, repair, and respectful resolution. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 25(3), 250-271. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2017.1364799