What are the effects of mentorship and role modeling on sexual confidence, relational competence, and self-concept in LGBT adolescents?
The term "mentor" was coined from Homer's epic poem Odyssey to describe Mentor, who took care of Telemachus while his father Odysseus was away at war for ten years. Today, it means someone older than you who teaches or advises you based on their experience. According to researchers, mentors can provide valuable guidance, support, emotional comfort, advice, and encouragement to help LGBT youth navigate the challenges they face during adolescence.
There is limited data available about how these benefits translate into improved sexual health outcomes, such as increased sexual confidence and better relational competence. This essay will review relevant studies that explore this question and discuss possible explanations for any observed relationships between mentorship and improved sexual health among LGBT teens.
Sexual confidence refers to one's belief in their ability to engage in safe and pleasurable sexual activities. Several factors contribute to an individual's level of sexual confidence, including previous experiences with sexual activity, body image, and sexual knowledge. Research has shown that LGBT youth often have lower sexual confidence than their heterosexual peers (Fisher & Greenberg, 2014). They may feel ashamed or embarrassed by their bodies or sexual desires and fear judgment from others due to cultural stigma around homosexuality and bisexuality (Burnette et al., 2019; Cochran & Rosky, 2016; Sell et al., 2017). Mentors could play a role in increasing sexual confidence through providing positive feedback, modeling good communication skills, and promoting self-acceptance.
One study found that mentees who had a mentor were more likely to report high levels of sexual self-efficacy (Graffam et al., 2020).
Other research suggests that sexual confidence may be shaped by socialization rather than personal characteristics like mentorship (Darlington et al., 2018).
Relational competence is the ability to form and maintain healthy romantic partnerships. It involves skills such as communication, conflict resolution, intimacy building, and boundary setting. LGBT youth are at risk for poor relational outcomes due to discrimination and rejection from family members, friends, and peers (Lawrence et al., 2013). Mentors can help LGBT teens develop these skills by teaching them how to communicate effectively with partners and set boundaries (Crosby et al., 2015; Weller & Austin, 2018). One study even showed that having a mentor was associated with reduced rates of unprotected sex among gay and bisexual men (Rose et al., 2019), suggesting that mentorship may have a direct impact on safer sexual behaviors.
Self-concept refers to an individual's sense of identity, worth, and value. LGBT youth often experience marginalization and stigma, which can lead to low self-esteem and negative body image (Brown et al., 2017; Frisk et al., 2021). Mentors can provide emotional support and encourage mentees to celebrate their identities and sexuality (Lambert et al., 2018). In addition, they can model positive attitudes toward sexuality and help mentees challenge harmful stereotypes about LGBT people (Knight et al., 2016).
There is limited evidence that improved self-concept leads directly to better sexual health outcomes in LGBT youth (Sell et al., 2017). Instead, it appears that other factors such as peer acceptance or family support may be more influential (Lawrence et al., 2013).
Mentorship and role modeling are important for improving the sexual confidence, relational competence, and self-concept of LGBT adolescents. While further research is needed to determine whether these benefits translate into better sexual health outcomes, mentoring programs could play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable populations like LGBT teens. By providing guidance, support, and emotional comfort, mentors can empower young people to navigate the challenges of adolescence with greater confidence, resilience, and pride.
What are the effects of mentorship and role modeling on sexual confidence, relational competence, and self-concept in LGBT adolescents?
Mentorship and role models can have positive impacts on sexual confidence, relational competence, and self-concept in LGBT adolescents by helping them identify and internalize successful behaviors that promote these traits. Mentors and role models serve as guides for younger individuals, providing support, encouragement, and validation to their experiences and actions.