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 The Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) was used as a measure of ethnic

identity (Phinney, 1992; Roberts et al., 1999; J. S. Phinney, personal communication,

November 13, 2001). This likert scale consists of 12 items. Responses range from

Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (5). Higher scores indicate a more achieved

sense of ethnic identity.

Mentors

 A mentor is defined as a nonparental adult who has a trusting relationship with

the adolescent (Rhodes & Davis, 1996). According to the Oxford dictionary, a mentor is

defined as "an experienced and trusted advisor" (Pearsall, 1999, p. 890). Naturally

occurring mentors can be relatives, teachers, community members, or other important

adults. They provide both role-modeling and emotional support (Grossman & Rhodes,

2002). Additional defining aspects of a mentor include relational factors. Adolescents

believe they can "count on" the adult, that the adult cares for them "deeply," inspires

them to do their best, and has influence over important decisions that adolescents make

(Rhodes & Davis, 1996, p. 216).

 The presence of a natural mentor was operationalized with the following question

previously used by Rhodes and colleagues (1992, p. 449; Appendix A): "Other than your

parents or whoever raises you, is there an adult in your life (a mentor, or positive role

model) who you go to for support and guidance?"

Mentoring quality factors

 Beyond the perception of the presence of a natural mentor, descriptive factors can

serve as a measure of quality of the mentoring relationship. Several factors have been

shown to influence the association between the presence of a mentor and positive