Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth

This study explored the experiences of mentors to youth during the early months of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study aims were to examine (1) the role of the pandemic on mentor–mentee interactions and relationships and (2) the ways in which mentors could be supported during the health crisis to bette...

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Autores principales: Kaufman, Michelle R., Wright, Kate, Simon, Jeannette, Edwards, Giselle, Thrul, Johannes, DuBois, David L.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8426756/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34318506
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12543
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author Kaufman, Michelle R.
Wright, Kate
Simon, Jeannette
Edwards, Giselle
Thrul, Johannes
DuBois, David L.
author_facet Kaufman, Michelle R.
Wright, Kate
Simon, Jeannette
Edwards, Giselle
Thrul, Johannes
DuBois, David L.
author_sort Kaufman, Michelle R.
collection PubMed
description This study explored the experiences of mentors to youth during the early months of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study aims were to examine (1) the role of the pandemic on mentor–mentee interactions and relationships and (2) the ways in which mentors could be supported during the health crisis to better meet youth needs. Six online focus groups were conducted with 39 mentors. Mentor participants included 26 females and 11 males (two did not disclose gender), and 51% identified as white. Any mentor currently in a mentoring relationship, regardless of type, was eligible. Using Facebook groups, moderators posted questions and prompts, and mentor participants responded using textual comments. The text from each group was recorded, extracted, and coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. As mentors transitioned to a primarily online format, text and video chat became the most common communication methods. Mentees’ access to technology and privacy were the biggest challenges faced. Mentor concerns for their mentees varied, including mental health, school, family finances, and access to instrumental support and food. Mentor help involved routinely connecting with mentees and providing academic support. Mentors requested ideas and resources for connecting with mentees and an online mentor support group. During the early weeks of the pandemic, mentors continued to engage with mentees, offering valuable support during a confusing and scary time. Mentoring programs can broaden their approach, intentionally integrating online connecting in an effort to provide safe, appropriate, and continued support to both mentors and mentees.
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spelling pubmed-84267562021-09-09 Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth Kaufman, Michelle R. Wright, Kate Simon, Jeannette Edwards, Giselle Thrul, Johannes DuBois, David L. Am J Community Psychol Original Articles This study explored the experiences of mentors to youth during the early months of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study aims were to examine (1) the role of the pandemic on mentor–mentee interactions and relationships and (2) the ways in which mentors could be supported during the health crisis to better meet youth needs. Six online focus groups were conducted with 39 mentors. Mentor participants included 26 females and 11 males (two did not disclose gender), and 51% identified as white. Any mentor currently in a mentoring relationship, regardless of type, was eligible. Using Facebook groups, moderators posted questions and prompts, and mentor participants responded using textual comments. The text from each group was recorded, extracted, and coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. As mentors transitioned to a primarily online format, text and video chat became the most common communication methods. Mentees’ access to technology and privacy were the biggest challenges faced. Mentor concerns for their mentees varied, including mental health, school, family finances, and access to instrumental support and food. Mentor help involved routinely connecting with mentees and providing academic support. Mentors requested ideas and resources for connecting with mentees and an online mentor support group. During the early weeks of the pandemic, mentors continued to engage with mentees, offering valuable support during a confusing and scary time. Mentoring programs can broaden their approach, intentionally integrating online connecting in an effort to provide safe, appropriate, and continued support to both mentors and mentees. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2021-07-28 2022-03 /pmc/articles/PMC8426756/ /pubmed/34318506 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12543 Text en © 2021 The Authors. American Journal of Community Psychology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Community Research and Action https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open access article under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
spellingShingle Original Articles
Kaufman, Michelle R.
Wright, Kate
Simon, Jeannette
Edwards, Giselle
Thrul, Johannes
DuBois, David L.
Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
title Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
title_full Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
title_fullStr Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
title_full_unstemmed Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
title_short Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
title_sort mentoring in the time of covid‐19: an analysis of online focus groups with mentors to youth
topic Original Articles
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8426756/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34318506
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12543
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