Self-efficacy is not just about the Self: African American cross-age youth mentors

Objective: Self-efficacy, a belief in one’s capacity to achieve specific outcomes despite obstacles, is tied to a myriad of positive outcomes in the educational, relational, mental health, and future achievement of Black youth. Black youth living in racially segregated, low-income urban communities face greater obstacles than other youth. This study examines how participation as mentors in a cross-age mentoring program influences self-efficacy, and what social and environmental factors are related to changes in self-efficacy Method: The study employs growth-curve analyses to investigate the impact of participation on self-efficacy and to examine the effects of the strength of the mentor-mentee relationship, perceived social support, and traumatic stress on the development of self-efficacy in Black youth in low-income urban settings. Results: Participating as mentors in the cross-age mentoring program is related to increases in self-efficacy compared to those not participating, with younger mentors showing greater increases than older mentors over time. Analyses revealed that mentors’ perceptions of the strength of their relationship with mentees and perceived social support are related to increased self-efficacy while traumatic stress significantly reduced it. Conclusions: Both social and environmental factors were related to self-efficacy, with youth mentors experiencing increases over their time in the mentoring program.