The experiences of behaviorally at-risk adolescent girls in a mentoring program

Abstract

ABSTRACTResearch suggests that the mentee’s individual characteristics may impact mentoring relationships; however, less is known about the mentoring experiences of adolescent girls presenting with behavioral challenges. We examined the experiences of middle school girls identified as behaviorally high-risk. Participants (N = 72) were referred to a school-based mentoring program. Girls with high behavioral risk (n = 24) were less likely to report that their mentors were meeting their expectations than were their low-risk counterparts. When compared to girls without behavioral concerns, there were no significant differences between grades or behavioral infractions. Qualitative interviews indicated that girls with high and low behavioral risk and their college women mentors experienced the mentoring program similarly. Both the mentees and mentors found the group component to be particularly beneficial. Findings will be used to improve the mentoring program structure and to inform the limited literature base on combined group and one-on-onementoring programs.