An Examination of the Role of Age in Mentoring Relationships

TLDR: This article examined the role of both age and age diversity in mentorships using quantitative and qualitative methodology and found that older proteges on average experienced less career-related mentoring, had shorter relationships, were closer in level to their mentor, and reported more mutual learning than younger proteges.

Abstract: This study examined the role of both age and age diversity in mentorships using quantitative and qualitative methodology. Based on data from nonfaculty employees of a large university, it found that the absolute age of the protege in mentorships influenced career mentoring provided, characteristics of the mentorship, and perceptions of mutual learning. Older proteges on average experienced less career-related mentoring, had shorter relationships, were closer in level to their mentor, and reported more mutual learning than younger proteges. Protege age interacted with mentor age, however, such that young proteges seemed to receive similar styles of mentoring regardless of mentor age, but as proteges age increased, they reported more career and psychosocial mentoring from younger than from older mentors. The content analysis of qualitative data revealed important variables to investigate in future research on age diversity in mentorships, including perceptions of competence and respect, similarity, and inte...