Mentoring Identity and the Motivation to Mentor: A Case Study of an Exemplary Peer Athlete Mentor
in The Sport PsychologistClick name to view affiliation
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Using a qualitative case-study design, the purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of a former exemplary peer athlete mentor (i.e., Nick [a pseudonym]). Data from 3 interviews (totaling 4 hr, 50 min) with Nick were analyzed using thematic narrative analysis. Nick indicated that mentoring played a key role in an athlete’s ability to rise to elite sport. He noted that he was motivated to mentor his protégés for their benefit but also for the shared gains associated with mentorship—the latter of which suggested he was involved in relational mentoring relationships. He further described having an unwavering belief in his protégés and a deep allegiance to them. Finally, Nick shared his views on the complexity of the “mentoring identity” that he had, to some extent, adopted. The findings provide novel insights into why, and to some degree how, athletes may serve as peer mentors.
Hoffmann is currently with the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Cape Breton University, Sydney, NS, Canada, and the School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Loughead is with the Dept. of Kinesiology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada. Caron is with the Dept. of Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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