Mentor Support Provisions Scale: Measure dimensionality, measurement invariance, and associations with adolescent...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Education
• Sociology

Background:

• Mentoring relationships significantly influence adolescent psychosocial and academic development.
• The specific mechanisms through which mentoring impacts outcomes require further understanding.
• Assessing the types of support provided by mentors is crucial for evaluating program effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychometric properties of the Mentor Support Provisions Scale (MSPS).
• To establish the dimensionality and reliability of the MSPS for assessing mentor support.
• To examine the predictive validity of MSPS-derived factors on adolescent outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to determine the scale's structure.
• Scalar invariance testing was conducted across student sex and ethnic groups.
• Structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationship between mentor support and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The MSPS demonstrated an acceptable fit with a three-factor structure: Academic Support, Intimacy, and Warmth.
• The scale exhibited scalar invariance, indicating measurement equivalence across demographic groups.
• The three mentor support factors significantly predicted academic engagement and achievement in reading and math.

Conclusions:

• The MSPS is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring distinct types of mentor support.
• The findings highlight the importance of academic support, intimacy, and warmth in mentoring relationships.
• The MSPS can be utilized in research and practice to enhance mentoring interventions for adolescents.