Siebert, Angélique (2024) Does the Level of Caring Behavior Exhibited by Mentors Impact Students' Sense of Mattering in Mentoring Relationships? Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
This study investigates the relationships between the level of personal investment and supportive attitudes of mentors — both faculty and peer — and students’ sense of mattering in mentoring relationships. Drawing from existing literature on mentoring and student well-being, the research questions whether mentors’ caring behaviors significantly impact students' perceptions of their significance and value. I hypothesized that such caring behaviors from mentors would positively influence students’ sense of mattering. Using self-report questionnaires, we conducted a study with a sample size of 224 students to measure the impact of faculty and peer mentoring. The findings indicate that while both faculty and peer mentors are positively correlated with students’ sense of mattering, the caring behaviors of peer mentors exhibit a stronger and more significant relationship. This suggests that peer relationships, characterized by perceived equality and shared experiences, are particularly impactful. However, the significant results for faculty mentors also underscore their essential role in student support. Recognizing the unique contributions of both faculty and peer mentors can enhance the design of mentoring programs. Training for mentors should emphasize caring behaviors such as empathy, active listening, and encouragement. Additionally, integrating principles from self-determination theory, which emphasizes autonomy, competence, and relatedness, can further improve student motivation and well-being. Implementing collaborative systems between faculty and peer mentors could optimize both academic performance and emotional well-being. Despite limitations like the use of self-report questionnaires and demographic homogeneity, this study provides a robust foundation for future research on the impact of caring behaviors in mentoring relationships. Keywords: peer mentoring, student mentoring, faculty mentoring, self-determination theory, caring, mattering, academic outcomes
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Donofrio, S.M. and Meijer, R.R. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Jul 2024 07:01 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Jul 2024 07:01 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3869 |
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