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
Mentoring program practices as predictors of match longevity.
Kupersmidt, J., Stump, K., Stelter, R. & Rhodes, J. (2017). Mentoring program practices as predictors of match longevity. Journal of Community Psychology, 1, 1-16. [PDF]
Relational experiences in school-based mentoring: The mediating role of rejection sensitivity.
Kanchewa, S. Yoviene, L. A. , Schwartz, Sarah E. O.,Herrera, C. & Rhodes, J.E. (2016). Relational experiences in school-based mentoring: The mediating role of rejection sensitivity. Youth & Society, 1-22. [PDF]
The Impact of Youth Risk on Mentoring
Raposa, Elizabeth & Rhodes, Jean. (2016). The Impact of Youth Risk on Mentoring. Relationship Quality: Do Mentor Characteristics Matter? American Journal of Community Psychology, Vol 57(3-4), Jun, 2016 pp. 320-329. [PDF]
From treatment to empowerment: New approaches to youth mentoring
Schwartz, S. & Rhodes, J. (2016). From treatment to empowerment: New approaches to youth mentoring. American Journal of Community Psychology, Vol 58(1-2), Sep, 2016 pp. 150-157. [PDF]
Validating a Mentoring Relationship Quality Scale Rhodes, J., Schwartz, S., Willis, M. M. & Wu, M. V. (2014) Validating a Mentoring Relationship Quality Scale: Does Match Strength Predict Match Length. Youth & Society,1-14.[PDF]
The Influence of same versus cross-gender matching in formal youth mentoring programs. Kanchewa, S., Rhodes, J. E., Schwartz, S. E. O., & Olsho, L. (2014). The Influence of same versus cross-gender matching in formal youth mentoring programs. Applied Developmental Science, 18, 31-45. [PDF]
Pathways of influence in school-based mentoring: The mediating role of parent and teacher relationships. Chan, C.S., Rhodes, J.E., Howard, W.J., Lowe, S. R., Schwartz, S. E. O., & Herrera, C.(2013). Pathways of influence in school-based mentoring: The mediating role of parent and teacher relationships. Journal of School Psychology, 51(1), 129-142. [PDF]
Youth Initiated Mentoring: Investigating a New Approach to Working with Vulnerable Adolescents. Schwartz, S. E. O., Rhodes, J. E., Spencer, R., & Grossman, J. B. (2013). Youth Initiated Mentoring: Investigating a new approach to working with vulnerable adolescents. American Journal of Community Psychology, 52(1-2), 155-169. DOI: 10.1007/s10464 013-9585-3.[PDF]
The Handbook of Youth Mentoring
Rhodes, J., Liang, B., & Spencer, R. (2013). First do no harm: Ethics in youth mentoring. In D.L. DuBois & M. Karcher (Eds.). The Handbook of Youth Mentoring, Second Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
How Effective Are MentoringPrograms for Youth? A Systematic Assessment of the Evidence DuBois, D. L., Portillo, N., Rhodes, J. E., Silverthorn, N., Valentine, J. C. (2011). How effective are mentoring programs for youth? A systematic assessment of the evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 12(2), 57-91.[PDF]
