PERCEPTIONS OF MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS

The influence of mentor-protege relationship structure and experience factors on perceptions of mentoring were examined for a sample of ment ors and also for a sample of proteges from the same work environment. Experience with mentor-protege relationships (number of mentors/proteg es and relationship length) and the relationship structure (formally a rranged vs informally developed and subordinate vs non-subordinate pro tege) significantly affected reports of the amount of psychosocial sup port, career guidance, role modeling, and communication that occurred in the mentoring relationships in which the proteges and mentors engag ed. (C) 1997 Academic Press.