School-based mentoring: A study of volunteer motivations and benefits
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: While research has been conducted concerning the effects of school-based mentoring on atriskstudents, limited work has focused on the volunteer mentors. This study examined themotivations of adult volunteers and the benefits of their participation in a six-month,school-based mentoring program. A total of 31 volunteers completed adapted versions of theVolunteer Functions Inventory and a post-survey as part of a program in which theymentored at-risk elementary school students. Volunteers were more satisfied with theirmentoring experience when their perceived benefits matched their initial motivations,though this did not seem to impact their intentions to mentor again in the future.Volunteers’ motivations tended toward expressing important values or gaining greaterunderstanding, though some younger volunteers were also motivated to gain career-relatedexperience. Implications for school-based mentoring programs are addressed.
Authors: Paul CALDARELLA, Robert Jeff GOMM, Ryan H. SHATZER, D. Gary WALL
Institution: Brigham Young University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $350
OpenAlex ID: W2163547601