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Abstract
This study examines the influence of five negative mentoring experiences (general dysfunction, lack of mentor expertise, mismatch within the dyad, manipulation, and distancing behavior) on protgs intentions to leave their mentoring relationships, along with potential moderators that may serve to weaken a protgs intention to leave a relationship that is characterized by negative experiences. Results show that general dysfunction, lack of mentor expertise, and mismatch within the dyad have direct effects on protg intentions to leave the relationship. Both perceived alternatives and fear of mentor retaliation were examined as potential moderators of the relationship between negative experiences and intentions to leave. Only the relationship between mismatch within the dyad and intentions to leave was moderated by perceived alternatives; both mentor manipulation and distancing behavior on intentions to leave the relationship was moderated by fear of mentor retaliation. Hierarchical regression analyses were used in this study.