ERIC Number: EJ1434821
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2379-7762
EISSN: EISSN-2328-3343
Available Date: N/A
Disability-Informed Graduate-Student Mentors Foster Co-Regulation for Undergraduates in STEM with Learning and Attention Disabilities
Consuelo M. Kreider; Sharon Medina; Carrie M. Comstock; Mackenzi R. Slamka; Chang-Yu Wu; Mei-Fang Lan
Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, v36 n3 p257-275 2023
As young adults transition into adulthood they must develop effective self-regulation techniques to help them navigate the heightened expectations of independence placed upon them. During this challenging developmental stage, mentors and other supportive individuals can facilitate co-regulation processes that help young adults reach self-regulation. This qualitative research identifies and characterizes supportive processes of regulation that graduate student mentors engaged in as part of their mentorship interactions with undergraduate mentees with learning disabilities and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (LD/ADHD). Participants were part of a larger campus-based study with 52 undergraduate mentees with LD/ADHD and 57 graduate student mentors. Data were transcripts from mentor group meetings (N = 20) discussing LD/ADHD and the mentorship experiences, undergraduate group meetings (N = 13) discussing LD/ADHD experiences and supports, and an instrumental mentor case study. Structural coding was used to identify content related to mentorship experiences; process coding was used to describe the actions and roles undertaken by mentors; content analysis was used to examine relative salience of topics discussed during mentor group meetings. Four themes emerged describing the ways in which mentors acted as co-regulators for mentees including: Fostering Positive Relationships, Guidance Based on a Similar Path, Supporting Strategy Generation, and Supporting Mentees by Setting Limits. Findings highlight key actions and processes for effective co-regulation techniques used by disability-informed mentors, that support the self-regulation practices of undergraduate students with LD/ADHD to reach their educational, career, and personal goals.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Mentors, Disabilities, Knowledge Level, STEM Education, Learning Disabilities, Self Management, Young Adults, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Student Experience, Peer Relationship
Association on Higher Education and Disability. 8015 West Kenton Circle Suite 230, Huntersville, NC 28078. Tel: 704-947-7779; Fax: 704-948-7779; e-mail: JPED@ahead.org; Web site: https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/jped
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Human Resource Development (HRD); National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) (NICHD/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1246587; K12HD055929
Author Affiliations: N/A