Exploring how naturally occurring mentorships emerge within a Mexican cultural context

Abstract

Natural youth mentoring focuses on cross-age relationships that develop organically outside the construct of youth programs. In the United States, research has demonstrated the positive impact of these mentorships and scholars have applied natural concepts to formal mentoring schema. Little work has been done to examine how these relationships emerge and the factors that impact their development. This study, designed in partnership with a school in rural México, aimed to unpack these questions using grounded theory. Participants were students, alumni, and teachers. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Findings indicate that despite adults' interest to create mentorships, adolescents and emerging adults will likely not be receptive until they are cognitively and emotionally ready. This study illuminated three factors of readiness—inhibitors, promoters, and activators—which contribute to this state of readiness at which point engagement with an adult seems to elevate from the typical bounds of youth–adult relationships to the natural mentorship level.