The quality of the mentor–mentee relationship is considered the key mechanism of change in mentoring programmes, and volunteer mentor retention is crucial to improving delivery and outcomes. Combining theoretical frameworks on mentoring programmes and volunteerism, this study aimed to examine: (a) programme and school predictors of mentoring relationship closeness and (b) the relations between mentor‐reported relationship closeness, satisfaction with the relationship as a measure of subjective evaluations of their work and expressed intention to continue mentoring in the future. Volunteer mentors (N = 103, mean age = 65 years, 75% female) from a school‐based mentoring programme in Italy completed a survey. Results of path analyses revealed that relationship closeness was associated in a positive manner with perceptions of the adequacy of the mentoring session setting, and programme support, but not teacher support. In addition, mentors' satisfaction partially mediated the connection between relationship closeness and intention to remain in the programme. Implications for practice are discussed. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

中文翻译：

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指导关系质量的计划和学校预测因素，以及指导者满意度在志愿者保留中的作用

导师与受训者之间关系的质量被认为是指导计划变更的关键机制，志愿导师的保留对于改善交付和结果至关重要。结合指导计划和志愿服务的理论框架，本研究旨在研究：（a）指导关系亲密性的计划和学校预测因素，以及（b）指导者报告的关系亲密性之间的关系，对关系的满意度作为对主观评价的衡量标准他们的工作，并表示有意在将来继续指导。志愿导师（N= 103，平均年龄= 65岁，女性75％）来自意大利一项基于学校的辅导计划，完成了一项调查。路径分析的结果表明，亲密关系与对辅导课程设置，计划支持，但教师支持的适当性的感知之间存在正相关关系。此外，导师的满意程度在一定程度上介导了亲密关系和留在计划中的意愿之间的联系。讨论了对实践的影响。请参阅补充材料部分以找到本文的社区和社会影响声明。