Characteristics, quality features and dynamics in formal youth mentoring relationships: The 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 paper presents a literature review that revisits the Rhodes Theoretical Model on mentoring processes (2002, 2005). In particular, the presented literature review operates the characteristics and dynamics of mentoring 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) Synthetizing the features of formal youth mentoring relationships associated with the quality of mentoring bonds; 2) Reviewing the research studies on relational dynamics and quality. Thus, it reviews the beneficial as well as risk relational and individual features in formal youth mentoring bonds, and 3) Reviewing features of Beneficial and Risky formal youth mentoring bonds. As a result, it revisits the model of pathways of benefits in formal youth mentoring relationships (Rhodes, 2002, 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.