Mentors’ approach to relationship-building and the supports they provide to youth: A qualitative investigation of community-based mentoring relationships

•Longitudinal, qualitative study examined mentor approach and supports to youth.•Fit of mentor’s approach to match circumstances mattered more than actual approach.•Mentors with good fitting approach provided the most social support.•Mentors with initial poor fit approach can adapt to build successful relationships. This longitudinal, qualitative study examined how mentors approach building relationships with early and middle adolescent mentees and how the mentor’s approach is associated with the supports provided by the mentor to the youth. Thematic analysis of narrative summaries of mentor, youth and parent interviews representing 16 mentor-youth matches did not identify any specific approach that better facilitated building the relationship. Instead, the fit of the mentor’s approach with the specific circumstances of the match appeared to matter more. Mentors whose approach fit well or who were able to adapt their approach to fit well provided the most support. Whether previous mentoring experience helped a mentor build the relationship and support the youth depended on well how the previous relationship went and how it influenced the mentor’s expectations with regard to the current match. Findings highlight the importance of program staff and parents in helping mentors find a good fitting approach in order to develop a supportive, long-term relationship with the youth.