Abstract

According to existing data from the American Psychological Association, the number of professional psychologists with marginalized identities is not commensurate with the increasingly diversifying US population. Furthermore, there is a recorded discrepancy between the percentage of marginalized students who enter undergraduate programs in psychology compared to those who finish license-granting post-secondary education/training. Promisingly, research in other fields has shown a positive correlation between mentorship experiences and student retention within higher education, increased feelings of belonging in students’ field of study, and a decrease in negative mental health symptoms. Research on mentorship programs within the field of psychology and specifically within university settings is limited. This study followed a time-limited semi-formal multi-tiered mentorship program for marginalized students in a New York City based private university’s psychology department. The program aimed to evaluate the impact of mentorship on mental health symptoms and sense of belonging. While the outcomes were not statistically significant in these two domains, the program demonstrates feasibility for future implementation and explores potential areas for ongoing research.

Ashley Koenig

First Advisor

Anindita Rao

Second Advisor

Sally Dickerson

Document Type

ETD

Date of Award

7-26-2024

Download

Share

COinS