Nonparental Adults as Social Resources in the Transition to Adulthood

This short-term longitudinal study examined whether the social resources of important nonparental adults (VIPs) perceived by youth during their senior year of high school had a significant relation to their educational and socioemotional adjustment 1 year later. One month before their high school graduation, a multiethnic sample of youths (N5 754) reported on their grades, educational expectations, and selected psychosocial characteristics (i.e., depressedmood and misconduct); the educational attainment and perceived psychosocial characteristics of an important nonparental adult in their lives; and the educational plans and perceived psychosocial characteristics of their close friends. Keymeasures were included in a mailed survey 1 year later. VIP characteristics (particularly their educational attainment) were associated with post-high school adjustment, even after controlling for previous level of youth adjustment and contribu-tions from demographic and peer characteristics. A solid body of research has shown that development during the adolescent years is influenced not only by parents and peers, but also by the nonparental adults who have become important in their lives (DuBois & Karcher, 2005; Zimmerman, Bingenheimer, & Notaro, 2002). These adults may be mentor