Informal Mentors: A Critical Source of Support for Underrepresented Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Analyses in a sample of 359 first-generation college students during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that having an informal mentor by the end of Fall 2019 predicted less severe COVID19-related life disruptions for the student, and buffered the negative effects of the pandemic on underrepresented students’ stress levels.