Growth mindset and responses to acute stress

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Stress Research
• Mindset Theory

Background:

• Growth mindsets posit that attributes are malleable.
• Links between acute stress responses and growth mindsets are crucial for understanding psychological disorders.
• Previous research has not examined the relationship between growth mindsets and acute stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between growth mindsets (thought, emotion, behavior) and acute stress responses.
• To examine salivary cortisol and anxiety levels during a stressor.
• To determine if gender moderates the relationship between growth mindset and stress response.

Main Methods:

• 135 undergraduate students participated.
• A modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was administered.
• Salivary cortisol and anxiety were measured throughout the stress test.

Main Results:

• Higher growth mindset of behavior correlated with lower cortisol levels 25 minutes post-stress onset in men.
• This association was not observed in women.
• Peak cortisol stress reactivity differed between genders in relation to growth mindset.

Conclusions:

• Gender appears to be a critical factor in the relationship between growth mindset and physiological stress responses.
• The findings suggest a nuanced understanding of mindset's role in stress management is needed.
• Further research should explore gender-specific mechanisms underlying stress and mindset.