Individual differences in student perceptions and utilization of undergraduate mentoring

ABSTRACT Although academic mentors often play an important role in an undergraduate’s experience, the mentor-mentee relationship at the college level is not a topic that has received significant empirical attention. I administered questionnaires to 105 undergraduates in order to assess their utilization of their mentor and satisfaction with the mentorship program. The relationship between individual aspects of mentoring (e.g. academic planning; interpersonal support) and overall satisfaction with mentorship received were also examined. I also assessed whether there were predictable individual differences in students’ perceptions of mentorship, focused particularly on their affective symptomatology and adult attachment style. Results indicated that students’ symptoms of depression and social anxiety were significantly negatively associated with their willingness to seek their mentor’s counsel and take their advice, and with their overall satisfaction with the mentorship they received. Similar negative associations were found amongst students higher in attachment insecurity.