A qualitative examination of the relationships that serve a mentoring function for Mexican American older adolescents.

This exploratory study was an in-depth examination of Mexican American adolescents' relationships with nonparental adults. Qualitative interviews with 10 Mexican American adolescents revealed 23 nonparental adults who served a mentoring function in their lives. Six of these nonparental adults were also interviewed. Data analyses were conducted using a grounded theory approach so that the relationships were described in participants' words and experiences. The nonparental adults identified by adolescents included siblings, extended family members, older peers, and institutional figures. The support provided took many different forms, from emotional to informational/experiential support, to modeling behavior, for example. Further, adolescents were supported in eight different areas of their lives. Participants also discussed the perceived benefits of these relationships for adolescents. Future research directions and implications for youth programming are discussed.

Taking advantage of opportunities: community involvement, well-being, and urban youth.

Positive interpersonal and community factors were examined as predictors of psychological outcomes. Over 200 African-American adolescents participated in four assessments across 2 years. Self-report surveys were administered to 5th through 8th grade students from three schools, and data were analyzed through hierarchical linear regressions. Results suggest that having a role model, school-belonging, community involvement, and church attendance predicted better psychological outcomes.