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Abstract
Natural Mentors can play a major role in children’s and adolescents’ psychosocial development. Psychosocial functioning describes how one’s personality develops and how social skills are learned during infancy and into adulthood (Bailey, 2023). One’s psychosocial development can include elements of one’s personal beliefs, emotions, relationships, and societal structures that can impact both their social and mental health status. This study identifies the correlation between the impact of engagement with natural mentors and the psychosocial functioning of African American adolescents aged sixteen to eighteen years old. This study delivers a cross-sectional survey design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods examining personal experiences/attitudes, mentor engagement within their life, and adolescents’ psychosocial development. Additionally, further studies are explored to support the influences of natural mentor engagement on adolescents’ psychosocial functioning and strengthen the research.
Keywords: Natural mentors, psychosocial functioning, resilience theory
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