Personality Predictors of Protégé Mentoring History

The present study identifies personality characteristics that are predicted to be associated with protégé status in a series of mentoring relationships, an area of research that has not been explored previously. Predictors of mentoring history identified are need for achievement, need for dominance, self‐esteem, and tension dissipation. A MANOVA, using number of previous mentors as the independent variable and 4 personality characteristics (need for achievement, need for dominance, self‐esteem, and tension dissipation) as outcome variables, showed a significant relationship. Univariate follow‐up tests indicated that the number of previous mentoring relationships was significantly associated with need for achievement, need for dominance, and self‐esteem, but not tension dissipation. Results are discussed in terms of protégé development, and directions for future research are suggested.