Ideological profiles of US adults and their support for youth mentoring

Abstract

Little is known about the influence of political ideology and religiosity on adults’ support for youth mentoring as a strategy to address social problems. This study used latent class analysis in a large, national sample of US adults to identify underlying ideological profiles associated with support for mentoring programs. Three latent classes emerged. The attitudes of two classes, Classic Conservatives and Progressives, were consistent with traditional political conservatism and liberalism; the latter endorsed higher support for the theory of mentoring and government spending on mentoring programs. Members of the third class, Religious Outsiders, were highly religious, self‐identified as very conservative, and were highly supportive of the theory of mentoring and the use of government funds on mentoring programs. Ad hoc analyses revealed that Religious Outsiders were the most likely to actually participate in mentoring activities. These findings suggest that support for mentoring, while not universal, crosses traditional political lines.

Looking back, moving forward: 50 years of the American Journal of Community Psychology

“…Three VSIs focused on well‐being, with two describing community‐led initiatives to promote well‐being and one aiming to understand community efforts to address global concerns. Hagler et al (2023) in their VSI feature 22 articles on formal youth mentoring, a community‐led approach to promoting youth well‐being. In their introduction, the VSI editors discuss these papers as they align with three themes: (1) the importance of mentoring length and quality, (2) youth characteristics that are associated with differential program outcomes, and (3) program practices that lead to stronger and more impactful relationships (Hagler et al, 2023).…”

“…Hagler et al (2023) in their VSI feature 22 articles on formal youth mentoring, a community‐led approach to promoting youth well‐being. In their introduction, the VSI editors discuss these papers as they align with three themes: (1) the importance of mentoring length and quality, (2) youth characteristics that are associated with differential program outcomes, and (3) program practices that lead to stronger and more impactful relationships (Hagler et al, 2023). From these 22 papers, Hagler and colleagues make recommendations for formal mentoring programs to ensure safe and sustainable mentoring practices and scholarship.…”