Since research to understand endings in youth mentoring relationships has been limited, despite the frequency with which they occur, the current study examined data from a mixed‐methods study of mentoring relationship endings.
The study surveyed youth mentees, the youth's parents or guardians, mentors, and program staff about the closure process; and a subsample of program staff, mentors, and parents or guardians also participated in in‐depth qualitative interviews. Findings from the descriptive analysis of the surveys and interviews detail the perceptions of multiple stakeholders in the closure process, along with case studies derived from a case‐based analysis of in‐depth qualitative interview data. The findings indicate that most relationship endings were initiated by the mentors, and although some matches engaged in an intentional and direct closure process, more often the endings were unclear or even confusing to program participants. Implications for practice are discussed, including recommendations for more training and greater involvement of program staff in the closure process. Implications for future research are discussed. (publisher abstract modified)