Cultivating a sense of meaning in life (MIL) is a critical task for emerging adults that can be fostered through engagement in prosocial activities like mentoring at-risk youth. While mentoring may promote MIL for some, the potential benefits likely vary. This study explored trajectories and predictors of change in MIL in 641 college student mentors of at-risk youth who participated in a 12-week mentoring program. Three unique trajectories were identified (1) a class exhibiting stable, high levels of MIL (high class, 86%), (2) a class exhibiting the lowest initial levels of MIL that increased over time (increasing class, 5%), and (3) a class exhibiting decreased MIL (decreasing class, 8%). Results indicated mentors’ adverse experiences, role self-efficacy, and the quality of the mentor–mentee relationship were associated with unique change trajectories. Results indicate heterogeneity in the process of deriving MIL, with certain individuals benefitting more than others from serving as a mentor.

对于新兴成年人来说，培养生活意义（MIL）是一项至关重要的任务，可以通过参与亲社会活动（如指导高危青年）来促进这种生活。虽然指导可能会促进某些人的MIL，但潜在的好处可能会有所不同。这项研究探索了参加12周指导计划的641名高危青年大学生指导者中MIL的变化轨迹和预测因素。确定了三个独特的轨迹（1）表现出稳定，高水平的MIL（高等级，86％）的等级，（2）表现出最低的MIL初始水平随时间增加的等级（增加的等级，5％），以及（3）班级的MIL下降（班级下降8％）。结果表明导师的不良经历，角色自我效能感，导师与受训者关系的质量与独特的变化轨迹相关。结果表明，在获得MIL的过程中存在异质性，某些人从担任指导者中受益比其他人更多。