Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mentoring Highly Aggressive Children: Pre–Post Changes in Mentors’ Attitudes, Personality, and Attachment Tendencies

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The Journal of Primary Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined the degree to which mentoring highly aggressive children was associated with changes in mentors’ attitudes, personality, and attachment tendencies. Participants were 102 college students who each mentored an aggressive, high-risk child across three academic semesters (spring, fall, spring). We examined pre- to post-mentoring changes in attitudes about mentoring efficacy and future parenting, Big Five personality characteristics, and attachment tendencies. Mentors also rated the impact of the mentoring relationship in their lives, and both mentors and mentees rated support of the mentoring relationship. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease over time in mentors’ ratings of self-efficacy, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness. These findings held even when controlling for ratings of relationship impact. However, mentors who rated the mentoring relationship as supportive tended to experience increased openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness and less attachment-related avoidance over time. Child-rated support negatively predicted mentors’ post-mentoring attitudes toward future parenting. Discussed are the potential costs of mentoring highly aggressive children and strategies that could help increase benefits to mentors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abidin, R. (1990). Introduction to the special issue: The stresses of parenting. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 298–301. doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp1904_1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual of the Teacher's Report Form and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont.

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1991). Manual of the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, T. D., Lentz, E., & Day, R. (2006). Career success outcomes associated with mentoring others: A comparison of mentors and nonmentors. Journal of Career Development, 32(3), 272–285. doi:10.1177/0894845305282942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (Revised 4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Haim, Y., Sutton, D. B., Fox, N. A., & Marvin, R. S. (2000). Stability and change of attachment at 14, 24, and 58 months of age: Behavior, representation, and life events. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(3), 381–388. doi:10.1111/1469-7610.00622.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bauldry, S., & Hatmann, T. A. (2004). The promise and challenge of mentoring high-risk youth: Findings from the national faith-based initiative. Philadelphia, PA: Public/Private Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blechman, E. A., & Bopp, J. M. (2005). Juvenille offenders. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 454–466). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blinn-Pike, L. (2007). The benefits associated with youth mentoring. In T. D. Allen & L. T. Eby (Eds.), The Blackwell handbook of mentoring: A multiple perspectives approach (pp. 165–187). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1969\1991). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1: Attachment, (2nd ed). New York, NY: Basic Books.

  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation, anxiety, and anger. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broidy, L. M., Nagin, D. S., Tremblay, R. E., Bates, J. E., Brame, B., Dodge, K. A., et al. (2003). Developmental trajectories of childhood disruptive behaviors and adolescent delinquency: A six-site, cross-national study. Developmental Psychology, 39(2), 222–245. doi:10.1037//0012-1649.39.2.222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buhrmester, D., & Furman, W. (1987). The development of companionship and intimacy. Child Development, 58(4), 1101–1113. doi:10.2307/1130550.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, S. B., Spieker, S., Burchnial, M., & Poe, M. D. (2006). Trajectories of aggression from toddlerhood to age 9 predict academic and social functioning through age 12. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(8), 791–800. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01636.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, M. C., Erickson, A. I., Kramer, A. F., Voss, M. W., Bolea, N., Mielke, M., et al. (2009). Evidence for neurocognitive plasticity in older adults: The experience corps program. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 64A(12), 1275–1282. doi:10.1093/gerona/glp117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, M. C., Saczynski, J. S., Rebok, G. W., Seeman, T., Glass, T. A., McGill, S., et al. (2008). Exploring the effects of an “everyday” activity program on executive function and memory in older adults: Experience corps. Gerontologist, 48(6), 793–801. doi:10.1093/geront/48.6.793.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavell, T. A. (2000). Working with parents of aggressive children: A practitioner’s guide. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cavell, T. A., Elledge, L. C., Malcolm, K. T., Faith, M. A., & Hughes, J. T. (2009). Relationship quality and the mentoring of aggressive, high-risk children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 38(2), 185–198. doi:10.1080/15374410802698420.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavell, T. A., & Smith, A. (2005). Mentoring children. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 160–176). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clawson, D. W. (1980). Career maturity activities for selected ninth grade pupils. Dissertation Abstracts International, 41(5-A), pp. 1950.

  • Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group. (1992). A developmental and clinical model for the prevention of conduct disorder: The FAST Track Program. Development and Psychopathology, 4, 509–528. doi:10.1017/S0954579400004855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., Herbst, J. H., McCrae, R. R., & Siegler, I. C. (2000). Personality at midlife: Stability, intrinsic maturation, and response to life events. Assessment.Special Issue: Innovations in assessment using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, 7, 365–378. doi:10.1177/107319110000700405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa, P. T., & McRae, R. R. (1985). The NEO personality inventory manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, E. L., Orgel, A. R., Gesten, E. L., & Wilson, A. B. (1979). The evaluation of an intervention program for young schoolchildren with acting-out problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 7(4), 381–396. doi:10.1007/BF00917610.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, E. L., Zax, M., & Laird, J. D. (1966). A college student volunteer program in the elementary school setting. The Community Mental Health Journal, 2, 319–328. doi:10.1007/BF02174272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darling, N., Bogar, G. A., Cavell, T. A., Murphy, S. E., & Sanchez, B. (2006). Gender, ethnicity, development, and risk: Mentoring and consideration of individual differences. Journal of Community Psychology, 34(6), 765–779. doi:10.1002/jcop.20128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davila, J., Burge, D., & Hammen, C. (1997). Why does attachment style change? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 826–838. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.73.4.826.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Anda, D. (2006). Baby think it over: Evaluation of an infant simulation intervention for adolescent pregnancy prevention. Health and Social Work, 31(1), 26–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diversi, M., & Mecham, C. (2005). Latino(a) students and Caucasian mentors in rural after-school program: Towards empowering adult-youth relationships. Journal of Community Psychology, 33(1), 31–40. doi:10.1002/jcop.20034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, D. L., Holloway, B. E., Valentine, J. C., & Cooper, H. (2002a). Effectiveness of mentoring programs for youth: A meta-analytic review. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30(2), 157–197. doi:10.1023/A:1014628810714.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, D. L., Neville, H. A., Parra, G. R., & Pugh-Lilly, A. O. (2002b). Testing a new model of mentoring. In J. E. Rhodes (Ed.), A critical view of youth mentoring (pp. 21–57). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, J. E., & LaFreniere, P. J. (1993). Mother–child relationships as sources of support or stress: A comparison of competent, average, aggressive, and anxious dyads. Child Development, 64, 1732–1754. doi:10.2307/1131466.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eby, L. T., & Lockwood, A. (2005). Protoges and mentors reactions to participating in formal mentoring programs: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67(30), 441–458. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2004.08.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edlind, E. P., & Haensly, P. A. (1985). Gifts of mentorships. Gifted Child Quarterly, 29, 55–61. doi:10.1177/001698628502900202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evanoski, P. O. (1988). An assessment of the impact of helping on the helper for college students. College Student Journal, 22, 2–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Festinger, L. (1957). Cognitive dissonance. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fried, L. P., Carlson, M. C., Freedman, M., Frick, K. D., Glass, T. A., Hill, J., et al. (2004). A social model for health promotion for an aging population: Initial evidence on the experience corps model. Journal of Urban Health, 81(1), 64–78. doi:10.1093/jurban/jth094.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furano, K., Roaf, P. A., Styles, M. B., & Branch, A. Y. (1993). Big Brothers Big Sisters: A study of program practices. Philadelphia, PA: Public/Private Ventures.

  • Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1985). Children’s perceptions of the personal relationships in their social networks. Developmental Psychology, 20, 277–290. doi:10.1037/0012-1649.21.6.1016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, Y. E., Metha, A., Perfect, M. C., & McWhirter, J. J. (1997). A senior peer counseling program: Evaluation of training and benefits to counselors. Educational Gerontology, 23, 329–344. doi:10.1080/0360127970230403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, L. R. (1992). The development of markers for the big-five factor structure. Psychological Assessment, 4, 26–42. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.4.1.26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, D. W., & Bartholomew, K. (1994). Models of the self and other: Fundamental dimensions underlying measures of adult attachment. Journal of Pesonality and Social Psychology, 67(3), 430–445. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.67.3.430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, J. B., & Rhodes, J. E. (2002). The test of time: Predictors and effects of duration in youth mentoring relationships. American Journal of Community Psychology, 30(2), 199–219. doi:10.1023/A:1014680827552.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, J. B., & Tierney, J. P. (1998). Does mentoring work? An impact study of the big brothers big sisters program. Evaluation Review, 22(3), 403–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruver, G. (1971). College students as therapeutic agents. Psychological Bulletin, 76, 111–127. doi:10.1037/h0031476.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guerney, L. (1983). Client-centered (nondirective) play therapy. In C. Schaefer & K. O’Connor (Eds.), Handbook of play therapy (pp. 21–64). New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, J. C. (2003, April 3). Mentoring and Young People: A literature review. Retrieved from The SCRE Centre, University of Glasgow’s website: http://www.scre.ac.uk/resreport/pdf/114.pdf.

  • Hamilton, C. E. (2000). Continuity and discontinuity of attachment from infancy through adolescence. Child Development, 71, 690–694. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00177.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, M. A., & Hamilton, S. F. (2005). Work and service-learning. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 348–363). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, C. C., & Welchert, A. J. (1990). Mentoring relations: A definition to advance research and practice. Educational Researcher, 19, 17–21. doi:10.2307/1176974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helson, R., Kwan, V. S. Y., John, O. P., & Jones, C. (2002). The growing evidence for personality change in adulthood: Findings from research with personality inventories. Journal of Research in Personality, 36, 287–306. doi:10.1016/S0092-6566(02)00010-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, C. L., Sipe, W. S., & McClanahan, W. S. (2000). Mentoring school-age children: Relationship development in community-based and school-based programs. Philadelphia, PA: PublicPrivate Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmbeck, G. N. (2002). Post hoc probing of significant moderational and mediational effects in studies of pediatric populations. Journal of Pediatric, 27(1), 87–96. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/27.1.87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzberg, J. D., & Gewirtz, H. (1963). A method of altering attitudes toward mental illness. Psychiatric Quarterly Supplemental, 37, 56–61. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/27.1.87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzberg, J. D., Gewirtz, H., & Ebner, E. (1964). Changes in moral judgment and self-acceptance in college students as a function of companionship with hospitalized mental patients. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 28, 299–303. doi:10.1037/h0045135.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, J. N., Cavell, T. A., & Jackson, T. (1999). Influence of the teacher–student relationship on childhood conduct problems: A prospective study. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 28(2), 173–184. doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp2802_5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karcher, M. J. (2005). The effects of developmental mentoring and high school mentors’ attendance on their younger mentees’ self-esteem, social skills, and connectedness. Psychology in the Schools, 42, 65–77. doi:10.1002/pits.20025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karcher, M. J. (2009). Hemingway: Measure of adolescent connectedness. Retrieved from http://educationnorthwest.org/webfm_send/292.

  • Karcher, M. J., & Lindwall, J. (2003). Social interest, connectedness, and challenging experiences: What makes high school mentors persist? Journal of Individual Psychology, 59(3), 293–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1993). Conduct disorder. In T. H. Ollendick & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of child and adolescent assessment (pp. 292–310). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Hazan, C. (1994). Attachment styles and close relationships: A four-year prospective study. Personal Relationships, 1, 123–142. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.1994.tb00058.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levinson, D. J., Darrow, D., Levinson, M., Klein, E. B., & McKee, B. (1978). Seasons of a man’s life. New York, NY: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, M., Feiring, C., & Rosenthal, S. (2000). Attachment over time. Child Development, 71(3), 707–720. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loeber, R. (1990). Developmental and risk factors of juvenile antisocial behavior and delinquency. Clinical Psychology Review, 10, 1–42. doi:10.1016/0272-7358(90)90105-J.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Main, M., Kaplan, N., & Cassidy, J. (1985). Security in infancy, childhood, and adulthood: A move to the level of representation. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50, 1985. doi:10.2307/3333827.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masten, A., Morison, P., & Pelligrini, D. S. (1985). A revised class play method of peer assessment. Developmental Psychology, 3, 523–533. doi:10.1037//0012-1649.21.3.523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClanahan, W. (2007). Mentoring and community-based solutions to delinquency and youth violence: Hearing before the committee on the judiciary, United States Senate, 110th Cong., I.

  • McGill, D., Mihalic, S., & Grotpeter, J. (1997). Book two: Big brothers big sisters of America. In: D. Elliott (Series Ed.), Blueprints for violence prevention. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science.

  • Meehan, B. T., Hughes, J. N., & Cavell, T. A. (2003). Teacher-student relationships as compensatory resources for aggressive children. Child Development, 74(4), 1145–1157. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00598.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novotney, L. C., Mertinko, E., Lange, J., & Baker, T. K. (2000). Juvenile Mentoring Program: A progress review. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/jump/.

  • Nykodym, N., Freedman, L. D., Simonetti, J. L., Nielsen, W. R., & Battles, K. (1995). Mentoring: Using transactional analysis to help organizational members use their energy in more productive ways. Transactional Analysis Journal, 25, 170–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogbu, J. U., & Wilson, J. (1990). Mentoring minority youth: A framework. New York, NY: Columbia University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parra, G. R., DuBois, D. L., Neville, H. A., Pugh-Lilly, A. O., & Povinelli, N. (2002). Mentoring relationships for youth: Investigation of a process-oriented model. Journal of Community Psychology, 30, 367–388. doi:10.1002/jcop.10016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, G. R., Reid, J. B., & Dishion, T. J. (1992). Antisocial boys. Eugene, OR: Castalia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Philip, K., & Hendry, L. B. (2000). Making sense of mentoring or mentoring making sense? Reflections on the mentoring process by adults mentors with young people. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 10(3), 211–223. doi:10.1002/1099-1298(200005/06)10:3<211:AID-CASP569>3.0.CO;2-S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad-Gaur, A., Hughes, J. N., & Cavell, T. A. (2001). Implications of aggressive children’s positively biased relatedness views for future relationships. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 215–231. doi:10.1023/A:1026429405389.

  • Ragins, B. R., & Scandura, T. A. (1999). Burden of blessing? Expected costs and benefits of being a mentor. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 20(4), 493–509. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(199907)20:4<493:AID-JOB894>3.0.CO;2-T.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reingerz, H. (1962). Group leadership of student volunteers. Mental Hospitals, 13, 600–605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E. (2002). Stand by me: The risks and rewards of mentoring today’s youth. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. E. (2005). A model of youth mentoring. In D. L. Dubois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 30–43). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. (2008). Improving youth mentoring interventions through research-based practice. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(1–2), 35–42. doi:10.1007/s10464-007-9153-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J., Liang, B., & Spencer, R. (2009). First do no harm: Ethical principles for youth mentoring relationships. Professional Psychology, 40(5), 452–458. doi:10.1037/a0015073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rholes, W. S., Simpson, J. A., & Blakely, B. S. (1995). Adult attachment styles and mothers’ relationships with their young children. Personal Relationships, 2(1), 35–54. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.1995.tb00076.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rholes, W. S., Simpson, J. A., Blakely, B. S., Lanigan, L., & Allen, E. A. (1997). Adult attachment styles, the desire to have children, and working models of parenthood. Journal of Personality, 65, 357–385. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00958.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riessman, F. (1965). The “helper” therapy principle. Social Work, 10, 27–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. W., Walton, K. E., & Viechtbauer, W. (2006). Patterns of mean-level change in personality traits across the life course: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 1–25. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.1.1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, B. W., Wood, D., & Smith, J. L. (2005). Evaluating five factor theory and social investment perspectives on personality trait development. Journal of Research in Personality, 39, 166–184. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2004.08.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, A. M., & Taylor, A. S. (1997). Intergenerational mentoring: A viable strategy for meeting the needs of vulnerable youth. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 28(1–2), 125–140. doi:10.1300/J083v28n01_15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, S., Mickler, S. E., Cheuk, W. H., & McIntosh, W. D. (1996). Recipient need and efficacious caring as moderators of helpers’ reactions to rejection and acceptance. Current Psychology: Developmental, Learning, Personality, Social, 15, 99–112. doi:10.1007/BF02686943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, B., & Colon, Y. (2005). Race, ethnicity, and culture in mentoring relationships. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 191–204). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scharfe, E., & Bartholomew, K. (1994). Reliability and stability of adult attachment patterns. Personal Relationships, 1, 23–43. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.1994.tb00053.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shirk, S. R., & Saiz, C. C. (1992). Clinical, empirical, and developmental perspectives on the therapeutic relationship in child psychotherapy. Special issue: Developmental approaches to prevention and intervention. Development and Psychopathology, 4, 713–728. doi:10.1017/S0954579400004946.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, J. A., Rholes, W. S., & Phillips, D. (1996). Conflict in close relationships: An attachment perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 899–914. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.71.5.899.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sipe, C. L., & Roder, A. E. (1999). Mentoring school-age children: A classification of programs. Philadelphia, PA: Public/Private Ventures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, R. (2006). Understanding the mentoring process between adolescents and adults. Youth & Society, 37(3), 287–315. doi:10.1177/0743558405278263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, R. (2007). ‘It’s not what I expected’: A qualitative study of youth mentoring relationship failures. Journal of Adolescent Research, 22(4), 331–354. doi:10.1177/0743558407301915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stollak, G. E. (1969). The experimental effects of training college students as play therapists. In: B. G. Geurney (Ed.) Psychotherapeutic agents: New roles for nonprofessionals, parents, and teachers. New York, NY: Holt, Reinhart, & Winston. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(196904)25:2<213::AID-JCLP2270250233>3.0.CO;2-J.

  • Tan, E. J., Rebok, G. W., Yu, Q., et al. (2009). The long-term relationship between high-intensity volunteering and physical activity in older African American women. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences., 64(2), 304–311. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbn023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, E. J., Xue, Q. L., Carlson, T., & Fried, L. P. (2006). Volunteering: A physical activity intervention for older adults-the experience corps program in Baltimore. Journal of Urban Health, 83(5), 954–969. doi:10.1007/s11524-006-9060-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tatum, B. D. (1992). Talking about race, learning about racism: the application of racial identity development theory in the classroom. Harvard Educational Review, 62(1), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A., LoSciuto, L., & Porcellini, L. (2005). Intergenerational mentoring. In D. L. DuBois & M. J. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of youth mentoring (pp. 2–11). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terry, J. (1999). A community/school mentoring program for elementary students. Professional School Counseling, 2, 237–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Umbarger, C. C., Dalsimek, J. S., Morrison, A. P., & Breggin, P. R. (1962). College students in a mental hospital. New York, NY: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaidya, J. G., Gray, E. K., Haig, J. R., Mroczek, D. K., & Watson, D. (2008). Differential stability and individual growth trajectories of Big Five and affective traits during young adulthood. Journal of Personality, 76(2), 267–304. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2007.00486.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waters, E., Merrick, S., Treboux, D., Crowell, J., & Albersheim, L. (2000). Attachment security in infancy and early adulthood: A twenty-year longitudinal study. Child Development, 71, 684–689. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00176.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weinfeld, N. S., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (2000). Attachment from infancy to early adulthood in a high-risk sample: Continuity, discontinuity, and their correlates. Child Development, 71, 695–702. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, J. H., & Ray, P. B. (1977). The helper therapy principle in relationship to self-concept change in commuter peer counselors. Journal of College Student Personnel, 18, 301–305.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the students, teachers, parents, and mentors who participated in this study. Support for this research was provided by a grant to Jan Hughes and Timothy Cavell by the National Institute of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (R01-DA10037). Additional support was provided by a grant to Timothy Cavell and Jan Hughes from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Melissa A. Faith & Timothy A. Cavell

  2. Tarleton State University, Killeen, TX, USA

    Samuel E. Fiala

  3. Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Jan N. Hughes

Authors
  1. Melissa A. Faith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Samuel E. Fiala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Timothy A. Cavell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jan N. Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melissa A. Faith.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Faith, M.A., Fiala, S.E., Cavell, T.A. et al. Mentoring Highly Aggressive Children: Pre–Post Changes in Mentors’ Attitudes, Personality, and Attachment Tendencies. J Primary Prevent 32, 253–270 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-011-0254-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-011-0254-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation