The Rhodes lab engages in advancing a range of research on designed to advance a more theoretically informed and practically applicable understanding of adolescents and young adults’ relationships with mentors in programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and beyond. Within this context, they have sought to uncover the basic processes involved in mentoring relationships, and to understand how certain youth are seemingly so profoundly affected by the relationships, while others appear to benefit little or even are harmed. They are currently conducting a major meta-analysis of the field and developing strategies for improving and evaluating mentoring for children of incarcerated parents. They are also exploring factors that predict early match closure, how activities affect match satisfaction and outcome, and the role of gender, sexual identity, race, and other factors in shaping mentoring ties.

Selected Publications

Development and initial validation of a camper-counselor relationship scale, Applied Developmental Science,

Rachel O. Rubin, Sara K. Johnson, Kirsten M. Christensen & Jean Rhodes (2022): Development and initial validation of a camper-counselor relationship scale, Applied Developmental Science, DOI: 10.1080/10888691.2022.2056462. [PDF]

Someone who ‘gets’ me: adolescents’ perceptions of positive regard from natural mentors, Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning,

Adar Ben-Eliyahu, Laura A. Yoviene Sykes & Jean E. Rhodes (2021) Someone who ‘gets’ me: adolescents’ perceptions of positive regard from natural mentors, Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 29:3, 305-327, DOI: 10.1080/13611267.2021.1927438. [PDF]

Cross-age peer mentoring for youth. A meta-analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1-17.

Burton, S., Raposa, E.B., Poon, C.Y., Stams, G, Rhodes, J. (2021). Cross-age peer mentoring for youth. A meta-analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1-17.[PDF]

The role of visitation and parent-child relationship quality in promoting positive outcomes for children of incarcerated parents

Kremer, K. P., Christensen, K. M., Stump, K. N., Stelter, R. L., Kupersmidt, J. B., & Rhodes, J. E. (2021). The role of visitation and parent-child relationship quality in promoting positive outcomes for children of incarcerated parents. Child & Family Social Work. [PDF]

A meta-analysis of the effects of mentoring on youth in foster care

Poon, C. Y. S., Christensen, K. M., & Rhodes, J. E. (2021). A meta-analysis of the effects of mentoring on youth in foster care. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01472-6. [PDF]

Paraprofessional Youth Mentoring: A Framework for Integrating Youth Mentoring with Helping Institutions and Professions

McQuillin, S. D., Hagler, M. A., Werntz, A., & Rhodes, J. E. (2021). Paraprofessional Youth Mentoring: A Framework for Integrating Youth Mentoring with Helping Institutions and Professions. American Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12546 [PDF]

A longitudinal investigation of first-generation college students’ mentoring relationships during their transition to higher education

Hagler, M. A., Christensen, K. M., & Rhodes, J. E. (2021). A Longitudinal Investigation of First-Generation College Students’ Mentoring Relationships During Their Transition to Higher Education. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice. doi:10.1177/15210251211022741[PDF]

Youth initiated mentoring-A scalable approach to addressing mental health problems during the Covid-19 crisis

van Dam, L., Rhodes, J., & Spencer, R. (2021). Youth-Initiated Mentoring as a Scalable Approach to Addressing Mental Health Problems During the COVID-19 Crisis. JAMA Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0490 [PDF]

Changes in Psychosocial Resources as Predictors of Posttraumatic Growth

Manove, E. E., Poon, C. Y. S., Rhodes, J. E., & Lowe, S. R. (2021). Changes in psychosocial resources as predictors of posttraumatic growth: A longitudinal study of low-income, female Hurricane Katrina survivors. Traumatology. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000318 [PDF]

Birds of a Feather: Is Matching Based on Shared Interests and Characteristics Associated with Longer Youth Mentoring Relationships?

Raposa, E., Eli-Yahu, A., Olsho, L., & Rhodes, J., (2018). “Birds of a Feather: Is Matching Based on Shared Interests and Characteristics Associated with Longer Youth Mentoring Relationships?” Journal of Community Psychology, 1-18, DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22127 [PDF]