Characteristics, quality features and dynamics in formal youth mentoring relationships: Rhodes' model revisited
Abstract
Youth mentoring interventions are based on one-to-one long-term mentoring relationships formed between a volunteer and socially-disadvantaged children and young people, and operate also in the Czech Republic. The theory and research of youth mentoring shows that the professional practice based on the research evidence on mentoring principles are necessary for successful facilitation of benefits of mentoring to socially disadvantaged children and young people.
The literature review summarizes in detail the characteristics and dynamics of relational features that do or do not mediate mentoring benefits in formal youth mentoring relationships. It contributes to the current theory, research and evidence-based practice in the field of youth mentoring, social psychology and theories on development in social context with: 1) Summarizing the principles of formal youth mentoring relationships; 2) Reviewing the research studies on quality features of formal youth mentoring relationships and on the moderatorsof quality; 3) Reviewing the types of formal youth mentoring relationships divided according to their quality and dynamics identified in the research studies to date.
As a result, it revisits the model of pathways of benefits in formal youth mentoring relationships (Rhodes, 2005) according to the literature results published in the field to date. Subsequently, it informs academics, professionals and volunteers who interact with children and young people in the role of mentors, significant adults and role models; and thus contribute to evidence-based practice in these professions and services with research evidence on mentoring principles.