The Socioeconomic Context of Relationships with Caring Adults: The Effects of Poverty on Natural Mentoring

Introduction. Naturally-occurring mentoring relationships with non-parental adults have been shown to promote youths’ well-being and resilience during the transition to adulthood. However, recent increases in class-based segregation and reduced funding for extracurricular activities have led to diminished opportunities for extended interaction between youth and non-parental adults, particularly for youth in the bottom income sectors. The current study used a nationally representative sample of adolescents to explore how poverty influences access to natural mentors during adolescence and the transition to adulthood.

Method. Participants included 14,102 adolescents in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health. In early adolescence, participants and/or their parents reported on several indicators of poverty, including family income and whether the family receives public assistance. In addition, an independent assessment of neighborhood poverty (percent of families living below the poverty line) was available for each participant. During early adulthood, participants were again surveyed, and reported on whether they could identify a natural mentor. If so, they were prompted to complete additional items about qualities of the relationship.

Results. Linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that lower family income (OR = 1.03; p < .05), receiving public assistance (OR = .78, p < .05), and greater neighborhood poverty (OR = .99, p < .001) predicted lower likelihood of acquiring a natural mentor during adolescence and the transition to adulthood. In addition, greater neighborhood poverty, but not other poverty indicators, predicted a higher likelihood of having a mentor who was a family member of friend versus a teacher or community member (OR = 1.01, p < .001). Higher family income predicted a greater likelihood of identifying one’s natural mentor as a “role model” (OR = 1.02, p < .05). In contrast, receiving public assistance predicted substantially greater likelihood of receiving practical advice from one’s mentor (OR = 1.88, p < .01) and addressing financial issues during mentoring (OR = 1.57, p < .05), as well as a lower likelihood of identifying one’s mentor as a role model (OR = .48, p< .05).

Conclusion. Results suggest that adolescents living in poverty have reduced access to natural mentoring relationships during a critical period in development. Moreover, adolescents from low-income backgrounds struggle to connect with natural mentors at school and in the community. Though they may form close bonds with caring adults, typically in their family or friend network, these relationships seem to focus on practical support, rather than developmental guidance that could lead to upward social mobility.