Resilience in the youth mentoring context : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand
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Date
2024
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Massey University
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Abstract
Youth mentoring is a social intervention tool used throughout the world, as well as within Aotearoa New Zealand. Studying the impacts of youth mentoring is a useful endeavour to better understand how it can be used to improve personal outcomes of the young people. Central to effective youth mentoring is the establishment of a caring relationship between a young person (mentee) and a more mature person (mentor) with the goal of assisting the positive socialisation and development of the young person. Such relationships are established to provide a safe space for young people to receive guidance and support in multiple areas of their life, including those related to school situations, domestic relations, social circles, mental health, and personal development. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how mentors foster resilience in their mentees from the perspective of the mentors. Working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand (BBBSNZ), three case studies were conducted, comprising of material from individual interviews and insights from a focus group. These conversations generated accounts of what it is like to mentor a young person and the various factors and considerations surrounding fostering resilience in them. These cases provided diverse and overlapping perspectives on resilience, what fostering resilience can look like, the other factors that influence mentoring relationships. Three cases offer insights into how these mentors adapt to their mentee’s needs, and how they fostered resilience in their own, unique ways. Key findings from this study relate to how mentoring offers such a personalised service to each child, and how this influences how resilience is fostered by their mentors. I consider the implications of key findings from across the three cases and relevant literature for how BBBSNZ can continue to support the mentoring of young people.