examine the influence of an ethnically matched mentor on the relationship between

ethnic identity and mental health.

 Multivariate analyses of variance, multiple linear regression, and logistic

regression were used to test these hypotheses. The hypotheses were not supported, with

one exception. Ethnic identity achievement was predictive of Alcohol/Drug Use for both

minority and majority adolescents. Ethnic identity achievement was not predictive of

mood-related symptoms possibly because of the early developmental age of the

participants. The presence of a natural mentor was also not predictive of mental health in

this sample, despite accounting for several aspects of relationship quality. Issues of

measurement validity and statistical power were limitations that may have influenced

these findings. Nonrandom sample selection, the use of a cross-sectional, correlational

design, and self-report measures were also limitations of this study.

 This study has direct implications for nursing research, education, and practice.

Psychiatric-mental health nurses could use these findings to develop screening protocols

for mental health problems. Nursing education, practice, and research should emphasize

adolescent socio-cultural and psychosocial strengths.