Assessment of the efficacy of a peer mentoring program in a university setting.
In the present study, the efficacy of a formal mentoring program applied to fourth and fifth year students of the Psychology Faculty of the Complutense University is assessed. In this program, fifth-year students took on the role of mentors and fourth-year students, the role of mentees. To assess the efficacy, the group of mentors was compared with a group of non-mentors and the group of mentees with a group of non-mentees, before and after the program, taking into account the variables related to career development function (knowledge acquired of the academic setting and satisfaction with the career of Psychology) and the psychosocial function (self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and involvement). The results show a statistically significant increase in the knowledge acquired about the academic setting as a consequence of the program, both in the group of mentors and in the group of mentees. Moreover, the mentors achieved a better average grade in the subjects of the specialty of Work Psychology. There were no statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in satisfaction with the career of Psychology, or in self-concept, self-esteem, or self-efficacy.
Alonso
Miguel A
MA
Departamento de Psicología Diferencial y del Trabajo, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain. m.alonso@psi.ucm.es
Castaño
Gloria
G
Calles
Ana M
AM
Sánchez-Herrero
Silvia
S
D000124:Achievement; D002321:Career Choice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010379:Peer Group; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education*; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D055815:Young Adult