Growth Mindset Predicts Cognitive Gains in an Older Adult Multi-Skill Learning Intervention

Abstract

Growth mindset (belief in the malleability of intelligence) is a unique predictor of young learners’ increased motivation and learning, and may have broader implications for cognitive functioning. Its role in learning in older adulthood is unclear. As part of a larger longitudinal study, we examined growth mindset and cognitive functioning in older adults engaged in a 3-month multi-skill learning intervention that included growth mindset discussions. Before, during, and after the intervention, participants reported on their growth mindset beliefs and completed a cognitive battery. Study 1 indicated that intervention participants, but not control participants, increased their growth mindset during the intervention. Study 2 replicated these results and found that older adults with higher preexisting growth mindsets showed larger cognitive gains at posttest compared to those with lower preexisting growth mindsets. Our findings highlight the potential role of growth mindset in supporting positive learning cycles for cognitive gains in older adulthood.

Cognitive training enhances growth mindset in children through plasticity of cortico-striatal circuits

“…Our training program, which was individually tailored to students' learning needs with the goal of mastering fundamental number knowledge, effectively improved both numerical skills 29 and growth mindset in children. Similar to our behavioral findings, a previous study with older adults also found increased growth mindset following cognitive intervention, which enhanced learning in parallel 14 . Our findings suggest that a positive learning experience focused on mastery of learning materials may facilitate children to endorse growth mindset by fostering beliefs that their abilities can be improved through effort and reducing attribution of their success or failure to fixed traits 5,30 .…”

“…Importantly, the stronger positive impact of growth mindset on math skills observed in the training, compared to control, group indicates that the influence of growth mindset on achievement is strengthened by cognitive training. These findings converge on related literature pointing to a positive correlation between growth mindset and performance gains in response to training in other domains such as working memory and cognitive control [14][15][16] . Our findings suggest that a training program that focused on mastery of contents can positively influence learning in children.…”

“…Academic interventions in children and adolescents increase positive attitude, which may be indicative of changes in growth mindset [11][12][13] . In late middle-aged and older adults, a multi-skill learning intervention was found to result in increased growth mindset 14 . However, there have been no direct investigations of cognitive training-related changes in growth mindset in children.…”

“…However, there have been no direct investigations of cognitive training-related changes in growth mindset in children. In addition, the role of growth mindset in individual differences in response to cognitive training remains unclear, as both positive [14][15][16] and negative 17,18 as well as non-significant 19,20 relations between growth mindset and training-related performance gains have been reported.…”

Triggering Chinese lecturers’ intrinsic work motivation by value-based leadership and growth mindset: Generation difference by using multigroup analysis

“…However, prior research presents varied outcomes regarding age-associated differences in the relationship of growth mindset with intrinsic work motivation. Some studies suggest a more notable association among younger employees [ 75 , 80 ], while others find no discernible difference [ 81 , 82 ]. Furthermore, limited research has ventured into this domain within the context of Chinese academic institutions.…”