Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2011

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership and School Counseling

Committee Chair

Wanda Maulding

Committee Chair Department

Educational Leadership and School Counseling

Committee Member 2

Frances Karnes

Committee Member 2 Department

Educational Leadership and School Counseling

Committee Member 3

J.T. Johnson

Committee Member 3 Department

Educational Studies and Research

Committee Member 4

Mary Ann Adams

Committee Member 4 Department

Child and Family Studies

Committee Member 5

Rose McNeese

Committee Member 5 Department

Educational Leadership and School Counseling

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship between mentoring and adult resilience, specifically adults that were mentored as adolescents. The study sample comprised of 657 adults from various locations across the country. For this quantitative study, they completed a two-part questionnaire made up of the Resilience Scale-14 created by Gail M. Wagnild and Heather M. Young (1993) and author created questions regarding demographics and mentor relationships.

The responses were analyzed using frequencies, means, standard deviations, independent samples t tests, and a Pearson correlation. Results of the study showed that there was a significant relationship between the reported impact of a mentor and resilience. No relationship was found between resilience and the length of mentorship, resilience and type of mentors, or resilience and the identified presence of a mentor. Based on the results, implications for educational change, further research, and school programming are discussed. The contents of this dissertation further explain the results of this quantitative study.

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