Supporting autonomy in youth mentoring relationships

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Adolescent Psychology
• Mentorship Studies

Background:

• Adolescent autonomy, or self-governance, is a critical developmental stage.
• Increased autonomy presents both opportunities and risks for adolescents.
• Positive relationships, particularly mentorship, can influence autonomous decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing literature on adolescent autonomy development.
• To propose a framework for understanding mentor roles in supporting autonomy.
• To identify key domains where mentors influence adolescent autonomy.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis of scientific research on autonomy and mentorship.
• Development of a conceptual framework based on synthesized findings.
• Identification of five key domains of mentor influence.

Main Results:

• Positive relationships, including mentorship, are crucial for healthy autonomous decision-making.
• Mentors can support autonomy through role modeling, encouragement, resource provision, advocacy, and behavioral conversations.
• The framework outlines five domains: role modeling, encouragement, resource access, relationships/experiences, advocacy, and behavior change conversations.

Conclusions:

• Mentorship offers a significant context for fostering healthy adolescent autonomy.
• A structured framework can guide mentors in supporting adolescent autonomy effectively.
• Further research and practice are needed to optimize mentor-supported autonomy development.