Newcomer socialization and stress: Formal peer relationships as a source of support

The present study examined formal peer developmental relationships within a graduate academic setting. Specifically, the relations between short-term mentoring provided by more experienced peers, multiple aspects of socializa tion, and stress were investigated. Data were collected from first-year MBA students working in teams which were formally assigned to second-year MBA peer mentors. Results indicated that the psychosocial mentoring provided by peers related positively to politics and performance aspects of socializat ion, while career-related mentoring related positively to the aspect of soc ialization that deals with the establishment of successful and satisfying r elationships with organizational members. Both mentoring functions were pos itively related to the amount of help in coping with stress that respondent s indicated their mentors provided. Further, mentoring was related to overa ll socialization, and overall socialization was related to work-induced str ess; however, socialization did not mediate the relationship between mentor ing and work-induced stress. The results underscore the valuable role that more experienced peers can serve in mentoring newcomers and enhancing socia lization. The results also provide empirical support for expanding conventi onal views regarding the network of viable mentoring relationships. (C) 199 9 Academic Press.