Mentoring relationships of eldercare staff in Australia: Influence on service motives, sense of community, and caregiver experiences

✍ Scribed by Bernadette Sánchez; Joseph R. Ferrari

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 82 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0090-4392
• DOI: 10.1002/jcop.20040

✦ Synopsis

Employees (76 women, 15 men; mean age ϭ 44.61 years old; SD ϭ 10.84) of a nonprofit eldercare program completed measures of public service motives, community self-efficacy, sense of community with coworkers, and caregiver satisfaction and stress. Participants also identified whether they had a mentor in their life, someone with more experience who provided support and guidance to them. Employees with mentors (n ϭ 47) compared to those without a mentor (n ϭ 44) indicated (controlling for social desirability) (1) significantly stronger motives to help others as boosting self-esteem, understanding of social problems, and reflection of one's values; (2) significantly stronger beliefs in a common mission and a desire to be supportive of peers; and (3) less caregiver stress in helping older adults. Limitations and implications are discussed.