Beyond the dichotomy of work and fun: measuring the thorough interrelatedness of structure and quality in youth mentoring relationships.

Measuring the various structural aspects of the organizing framework for this volume and relating them to match quality and relevant developmental outcomes is a critical step toward assessing the framework's utility for practitioners, policymakers, and program evaluators. Nakkula and Harris take a step in that direction by exploring core interrelationships between match structure, as defined in the framework, and mentor and mentee experiences of match quality. Central to their findings is the pivotal role of sharing--mentor and mentee discussions of concerns and everyday experiences--as a moderator of fun in the prediction of relationship quality as experienced by both the mentor and mentee, and as a moderator of more growth-oriented emphases in the prediction of instrumental match quality. In short, sharing seems to provide the boost that helps make fun and instrumental orientations more holistically developmental. Training mentors and mentees to share more effectively in their matches may serve to enhance the overall experience of match quality for both partners.