AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESSFUL ASSIGNED MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS

TLDR

The study investigated how protégé traits, relationship gender mix, quality, and time with the mentor affect career and psychosocial benefits. Protégés were assigned to mentors through a development program, and an instrument was created to measure the career and psychosocial outcomes provided by mentors. Psychosocial outcomes were linked to protégé gender, job involvement, and career planning, and the study outlines implications and future research directions.

Abstract

This study examined the influence of protégé characteristics, gender composition of the mentoring relationship, the quality of the relationship, and the amount of time the protégé spent with the mentor on career and psychosocial benefits gained by the protégé. Protégés were assigned to mentors as part of a development program designed to facilitate personal and career development of educators. An instrument designed to assess the extent to which mentors provide career and psychosocial outcomes to protégés was developed. Protégé gender, job involvement, and career planning activity was related to attainment of psychosocial outcomes. Implications and future directions for research regarding mentoring are discussed.