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Natural mentor relationships among latina adolescent mothers: Psychological adjustment, moderating processes, and the role of early parental acceptance
Author(s) -
Rhodes Jean E.,
Contreras Josefina M.,
Mangelsdorf Sarah C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf02506863
Subject(s) - health psychology , psychology , anxiety , social support , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , depressive symptoms , public health , social psychology , medicine , psychiatry , nursing
Investigated the antecedents, effects, and underlying characteristics of natural mentor relationships in a sample of 54 inner‐city, Latina adolescent mothers. Women with mentors reported significantly lower levels of depression and anxiety than those without mentors despite similar levels of stress exposure and overall support resources. Young women with natural mentors were also more satisfied with their support resources and appeared better able to cope effectively with relationship problems. Finally, women with mentors recalled their childhood relationships with their mothers as more accepting. Mentor relationships appear to enhance young women's capacity to benefit from their support resources and offset the effects of relationship problems. Implications for future research and intervention strategies are discussed.