Adolescent Dual Factor Mental Health: The Role of Growth Mindset, Stress, and Gender

• In Event: Supporting Adolescent and Young Adult Development and Well-Being

Abstract

Stressful life events are significant risk factors for adolescent mental health issues. A mental health growth mindset, the belief that thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are malleable, fosters resilience and positive outcomes. Using self-report survey data from a diverse sample of high school students (n= 577), we examined how mental health growth mindset and stress levels predicted life satisfaction and psychopathological symptoms. Results showed the negative main effect of a mental health growth mindset on internalizing/externalizing problems, and a significant interaction effect between stress and growth mindset on life satisfaction. Specifically, the positive association between growth mindset and life satisfaction was weakened under high stress. Future directions and implications on mental health services for stressed adolescents will be discussed.

Authors

• Rahma F. Goran, Temple University

• Xu Jiang, Temple University