Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2004

Publication Source

Journal of Applied Social Psychology

Abstract

Studies have begun to document the academic and psychosocial benefits of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters programs for at-risk youth (Rhodes, Grossman, & Resch, 2000). However, investigators have noted a problem with mentor attrition (Meissen & Lounsbury, 1981). The purpose of the current study was twofold. First, we explored the relative importance of specific dimensions of perceived similarity (including similarity in attitudes, interests, race, and personality) as well as mentors' expectation-reality discrepancies in predicting mentors' expressed intention to remain in Big Brothers/Big Sisters programs. Second, we examined a model whereby interpersonal attraction and relationship quality served as mediators of these associations. Our results suggest that perceived similarity in extraver-sion as well as the discrepancy between mentors' ideal versus actual roles were significant predictors of mentors' expressed intention to remain in the relationship. Relationship quality and interpersonal attraction appeared to mediate these findings.

Inclusive pages

598–623

ISBN/ISSN

1559-1816

Document Version

Postprint

Comments

Copyright © 2004, Wiley Periodicals Inc. This is the authors' accepted manuscript for the article of the same title that appeared in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 34, Issue 3.

Some differences may exist between the manuscript and the published version; as such, researchers wishing to quote directly from this resource are advised to consult the version of record.

Articles by Catherine J. Lutz may appear elsewhere in this repository under the author names Catherine L. Zois or Catherine J. Lutz-Zois.

Publisher

Wiley Periodicals Inc.

Volume

34

Issue

3

Peer Reviewed

yes

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