When the world turned upside down during the COVID-19 pandemic, some people seemed to weather the storm better than others. Though many struggled with depression and loneliness during lockdowns, others maintained their mental well-being and even thrived. What made the difference? According to new research, one key factor may be something called a “growth mindset” – the belief that our abilities and attributes can change and develop over time.
This fascinating study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Riverside and the University of the Pacific, followed 454 adults ages 19 to 89 over two years of the pandemic, from June 2020 to September 2022. Their findings suggest that people who believe their capabilities are malleable rather than fixed were better equipped to handle the psychological challenges of the pandemic.
Growth mindset represents a fundamental belief about human potential – that we can develop our abilities through effort, good strategies, and input from others. During the pandemic, this mindset appeared to help people view adversity as opportunities for adaptation and learning.
Looking at adults from diverse backgrounds in Southern California, the researchers examined how growth mindset related to three key aspects of mental health during the pandemic: depression levels, overall well-being, and how well people adjusted their daily routines to accommodate physical distancing requirements.
The results, published in PLOS Mental Health, were striking. People with stronger growth mindsets reported lower levels of depression and higher levels of well-being, even after accounting for various demographic factors like age, income, and education level. They were also more likely to successfully adapt their daily routines to pandemic restrictions.
The study included a unique group of older adults who had participated in a special learning intervention before the pandemic. These individuals had spent three months learning multiple new skills – from painting to using iPads to speaking Spanish. Not only did this group show increased growth mindset after their learning experience, but they also demonstrated better mental health outcomes during the pandemic compared to their peers who hadn’t participated in the intervention.
This finding suggests that actively engaging in learning new skills might help build mental resilience for challenging circumstances. The combination of growth mindset with actual learning experiences appeared to create stronger psychological benefits during the pandemic.
Age played a fascinating role in the results. While older adults generally showed more resilience in terms of emotional well-being and lower depression rates compared to younger participants, they were less likely to adjust their daily routines during the pandemic. This suggests that while age may bring emotional stability, it might also be associated with less behavioral flexibility.
Source : https://studyfinds.org/growth-mindset-protects-mental-health-during-hard-times/