Mindsets: Investigating resilience

Mindsets – beliefs about the malleability of attributes – predict coping and resilience to challenges in academia. Emerging research suggests that mindsets function similarly in mental health related contexts. This could have major implications for those who have experienced childhood maltreatment (CM), seeing that CM often compromises mental health. This study investigated the mindset as a mediator for the association between CM and resilience. Results suggest that a growth mindset facilitates psychological resilience for individuals who have experienced CM, particularly for emotional neglect and emotional abuse. Results of this study provide important implications for promoting psychological adjustment in individuals who have experienced CM. Findings in this study set a precedence for parents, teachers, and clinicians to promote a growth mindset in everyday activities, classes, and recovery programs. Future longitudinal research can build on the findings of this study to examine the relation of mindsets and resilience over time.