School-based Mentoring in Secondary Education: Its Effect on School Climate and Aggression Among Peers

• Published in: Canadian journal of school psychology Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 328 - 343
• Main Authors: Fernández-Rouco, Noelia, Fernández-Fuertes, Andrés A., García-Lastra, Marta, España-Chico, Celia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-12-2022; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Aggression; Aggressiveness; Bullying; Educational Environment; Educational psychology; Foreign Countries; Mentoring programs; Mentors; Peer Relationship; Peer relationships; Prevention; School environment; Secondary Education; Secondary School Students; Student Attitudes; Student Development; Student teacher relationship; Teacher Student Relationship; Victimization; Victims; Spain; adolescence; school-based mentoring; peer aggressions; school climate; Secondary Education
• ISSN: 0829-5735; 2154-3984
• DOI: 10.1177/08295735221127059

Background: School-based mentoring provided by teachers contributes to the ultimate goal of education: all-round student development and a good mutual coexistence. Aims: This study investigates secondary school students’ perceptions of a school climate and school-based mentoring provided by teachers; it also examines the relationship between the school climate and peer aggression, and the moderating effect that teacher-led school mentoring could have on this relationship. Methodology: A total of 441 students between 12 and 17 years old (M = 13.99, SD = 1.33) were surveyed in Cantabria (Spain); the high schools were selected by means of a random sampling of two-stage clusters. Findings: The results demonstrated a direct negative relationship between a school climate and school-based mentoring with respect to peer aggression victimization. Likewise, mentoring showed a moderating effect on the relationship between a school climate and peer aggression victimization. Further implications: These findings highlight the importance of the school climate in preventing peer aggression and the central role that school-based mentoring plays in the relationship between a school climate and peer aggression victimization.