Non-parental adults in the lives of Mexican-American and Anglo-American adolescents: a comparative study

Date

1998-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

This study examined individuals who were named as important in the lives of adolescents. As a broad scope, the functions of these relationships were examined to determine the degree of functionality of the mother, father, peer and a non-parental adult have in the roles of challenger, counselor, teacher, social facilitator, moral guide, companion, behavioral model and supporter. This further study identified these important non-parental adults in order to determine how these relationships differed from, or are similar to young adolescents' relationships with their mother, father, and best friends. Finally, the study examined characteristics associated with having high or low quality relationships with a potential mentor. The focus of this study, throughout, was to compare the relationships that were maintained in the lives of young adolescent Mexican Americans and Anglo Americans and to describe differences or similarities noted.

The target population for this study was young adolescents (ages 12-15). The sample consisted of 356 (290 Mexican American and 66 Anglo American) adolescents attending 2 junior high schools in a culturally diverse southwest community consisting of 40% Mexican Americans.

A questionnaire was distributed during class asking students to rate their mothers, fathers, best friends, and non-parental adults on items representing mentoring functions. Additionally, Harter's (1988) perceived competence scale, Cegala's (1981) Communication Competence Scale and the short form of the Nowicki-Strickland (1973) locus of control scale for children was used to assess the adolescents' characteristics of communication competence and internal or external locus of control. MANOVA, ANOVA, and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis.

A majority of the participants named an important non-parental adult. Mexican American adolescents named significantly more relatives as important non-parental adults. Overall, females listed friends as possessing higher mentor qualities than males and males rated fathers higher than females. By ethnicity, Anglos rated fathers higher than Mexican Americans and Mexican Americans rated non-parental adults higher than Anglos. Mothers ranked highest on mentor quality across all groups. Children's characteristics of perceptiveness and responsiveness were the only individual characteristics found to significantly correlate with possessing a high functioning mentor.

Mentor research has been the focus of many recent programs aimed at buffering the negative effects of environmental and social issues such as low socio-economic status, poverty, low educational levels, high school dropout rates, etc. However, previous research has focused on constructing relationships particularly for high risk and gifted students. Until now, little has been examined in the area of naturally occurring relationships which have the potential to impact the lives of adolescents as mentors.

Description

Keywords

Adolescent psychology, New attitudes, Whites

Citation