Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stages of Mentoring: An Analysis of an Intervention for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents

  • Published:
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A qualitative analysis of 51 matches between volunteer mentors and pregnant adolescents is discussed in terms of problems that occurred and reasons relating to early termination of the match. In each of three stages of the relationship, different issues related to the behavior and interpersonal process between members of the match created problems. In stage one, the mentors had difficulty establishing the match when there was avoidance, distrust, and testing behavior on the part of the mentee. Fear of intimacy and rejection seemed to underlie these relationship difficulties. In stage two, which encompassed the birth of the adolescent’s child, conflict occurred when mentees’ demands overwhelmed the mentors. In the third stage, difficulties discussing termination or continuation of the relationship led to disengagement and less frequent contact. Recommendations are provided to help mentors and mentees navigate the problems in each of these stages.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, E., Bates, M., & Merdinger, J. (1985). Educational policies and programs for teenage parents and pregnant teenagers. Family Relations, 34, 183–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ainslie, R. C. (1982). On the infant’s meaning for the parent: A study of four mentor–daughter pairs. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 12(2), 97–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balcazar, F. E., Majors, R., Blanchard, K. A., & Paine, A. (1991). Teaching minority high school students to recruit helpers to attain personal and educational goals. Journal of Behavioral Education, 1, 445–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bierman, B., & Bierman, J. (1985). Preoedipal fication: Its contribution to pregnancy in early adolescence. Infant Mental Health Journal, 6(1), 45–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blechman, E. A. (1992). Mentors for high-risk minority youth: Effective communication to bicultural competence. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 160–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blinn-Pike, L., Kuschel, D., McDaniel, A., Mingus, S., & Mutti, M. P. (1998). The process of mentoring pregnant adolescents: An exploratory study. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 47, 119–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogat, G. A., Caldwell, R. A., Guzman, B., Galasso, L., & Davidson, W. S., II (1998). Structure and stability of maternal support among pregnant and parenting adolescents. Journal of Community Psychology, 26(6), 549–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogat, G. A., Liang, B., Caldwell, R. A., Davidson, W. S. II, Bristor, M., Phillips, M., et al. (1993). Alternative schools: A school transition for adolescent mothers. Prevention in Human Services, 10, 151–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boonstra, H. (2002). Teen pregnancy: Trends and lessons learned. Guttmacher Report on Public Policy, 5, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cobliner, W. G. (1981). Prevention of adolescent pregnancy: A developmental perspective. Birth Defects, 16(3), 35–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, G. L., Steele, C. M., & Ross, L. D. (1999). The mentor’s dilemma: Providing critical feedback across the racial divide. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 1302–1318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crnic, K., Greenberg, B., Robinson, N., & Ragozin, A. (1984). Maternal stress and social support: Effects on the mentor–infant relationship from birth to eighteen months. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 54, 224–235.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. A. (1988). Adolescent pregnancy and infant mortality: Isolating the effects of race. Adolescence, 22(92), 899–908.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. A., & Rhodes, J. (1994). African-American teenage mothers and their mothers: An analysis of supportive and problematic interactions. Journal of Community Psychology, 22(1), 12–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, A., Rhodes, J. E., & Hamilton-Leaks, J. (1997). When both parents may be a source of support and problems: An analysis of pregnant and parenting female African American adolescents’ relationships with their mothers and fathers. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 7, 331–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeBolt, M., Pasley, B., & Kreutzer, J. (1990). Factors affecting the probability of school dropout: A study of pregnant and parenting adolescent females. Journal of Adolescent Research, 5(2), 195–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Figueira-McDonough, J. (1985). Are girls different? Gender discrepancies between behavior and control. Child Welfare, 64, 273–288.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, M. (1993). The kindness of strangers: Adult mentors, urban youth, and the new volunteerism. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuligni, A. J. (1998). Authority, autonomy, and parent-adolescent conflict and cohesion: A study of adolescents from Mexican, Chinese, Filipino, and European backgrounds. Developmental Psychology, 34(4), 782–792.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, J. B., & Rhodes, J. E. (2002). The test of time: Predictors and effects of duration in youth mentoring relationships. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30, 199–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, S., & Hamilton, M. (1990). Linking up: Final report on a mentoring program for youth. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Cornell University: Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, A. O., Wilson, M. N., Pine, C. J., Chan, S. Q., & Buriel, R. (1990). Family ecologies of ethnic minority children. Child Development, 61(2), 347–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshaw, S. K. (2004). U.S. teenage pregnancy statistics with comparative statistics for women aged (pp. 20–24). New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalbfleisch, P. J., & Davies, A. B. (1993). An interpersonal model for participation in mentoring relationships. Western Journal of Communication, 57(Fall), 399–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, T., & Fullard, W. (1982). Teenage mothers and their infants: New findings on the home environment. Journal of Adolescence, 5, 333–346.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klaw, E. L., & Rhodes, J. E. (1995). Mentor relationships and the career development of pregnant and parenting African-American teenagers. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 551–562.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koyle, P. F., Jensen, L. C., Olsen, J., & Cundick, B. (1989). Comparison of sexual behaviors among adolescents having an early, middle, and later first intercourse experience. Youth & Society, 20, 461–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kram, K. E. (1983). Phases of the mentor relationship. Academy of Management Journal, 26(4), 608–625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krupp, J. A. (1987). Mentor and protégé perceptions of mentoring relationship in an elementary and secondary school. International Journal of Mentoring, 1(1), 35–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liang, B., Tracy, A. J., Taylor, C. A., & Williams, L. M. (2002). Mentoring college-age women: A relational approach. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30, 271–288.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, S. (2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 250–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, C. F., & Worobey, J. (1984). Perceived mentor–daughter relationsin a pregnant and non-pregnant adolescent sample. Adolescence, 19, 781–794.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Passino, A. W., Whitman, T. L., Borkowski, J. G., Schellenback, C. J., Maxwell, S. E., Keogh, D., et al. (1993). Personal adjustment during pregnancy and adolescent parenting. Adolescence, 28(109), 97–122.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quint, J. (1991). Project Redirection: Making and measuring a difference. Evaluation and Program Planning, 14, 75–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E. (1993). Easing postpartum school transitions through parent mentoring programs. Prevention in Human Services, 10(2), 169, 178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E. (2002). Stand by me: The risks and rewards of mentoring today’s youth. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E., Contreras, J. M., & Mangelsdorf, S. C. (1994a). Natural mentor relationships among Latina adolescent mothers: Psychological adjustment, moderating processes, and the role of early parental acceptance. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22(2), 211–227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E., Ebert, L., & Fisher, K. (1992). Natural mentors: An overlooked resource in the social networks of young, African American mothers. American Journal of Community Psychology, 20(4), 445–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E., Gingiss, P. L., & Smith, P. B. (1994b). Risk and protective factors for alcohol use among pregnant African-American, Hispanic, and White adolescents: The influence of peers, sexual partners, family members, and mentors. Addictive Behaviors, 19(5), 555–564.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, B., & Colon, Y. (2005). Race, ethnicity, and culture in mentoring relationships. In D. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of Youth Mentoring (pp. 191–204). CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scales, P. C., & Gibbons, J. L. (1996). Extended family members and unrelated adults in the lives of young adolescents: A research agenda. Journal of Early Adolescence, 16, 365–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seitz, V., Rosenbaum, L., & Apfel, N. (1991). Effects of an intervention program for pregnant adolescents: Educational outcomes of two year postpartum. American Journal of Community Psychology, 19, 911–930.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, B. R., & Donovan, B. R. (1990). Relationship of perceived maternal acceptance-rejection in childhood and social support networks of pregnant adolescents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61(1), 103–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steele, C. M. (1997). A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape the intellectual identities and performance of women and African Americans. American Psychologist, 52, 613–629.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, W., Maton, K., & Teti, D. M. (1999). Social support, relationship quality, and well-being among pregnant adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 22, 109–121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Styles, M. B., & Morrow, K. V. (1995). Understanding how youth and elders form relationships: A study of four linking lifetimes programs. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, M., & Peebles-Wilkins, W. (1992). The impact of formal, informal, and societal social support networks on the psychological well-being of Black adolescent mothers. Social Work, 37, 322–328.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turban, D. B., & Dougherty, T. W. (1994). Role of protege personality in receipt of mentoring and career success. Academy of Management Journal, 37(3), 688–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wynn, J., Costello, J., Halpern, R., & Richman, H. (1994). Children, families, and communities: A new approach for social services. Chicago: University of Chicago Chapin Hall Center for Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zippay, A. (1995). Expanding employment skills and social networks among teen mothers: Case study of a mentor program. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 12(1), 51–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 107E Psychology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1116, USA

    G. Anne Bogat

  2. Lynch School of Education, Counseling and Developmental Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA

    Belle Liang

  3. Independent Practice, 1508 San Ignacio Avenue, Suite 200, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA

    Rosa M. Rigol-Dahn

Authors
  1. G. Anne Bogat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Belle Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rosa M. Rigol-Dahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Anne Bogat.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Anne Bogat, G., Liang, B. & Rigol-Dahn, R.M. Stages of Mentoring: An Analysis of an Intervention for Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 25, 325–341 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-008-0130-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-008-0130-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation