Growth mindset interventions, shared positivity, and well-being

The two articles I present here relate to well-being. First, Burnette et al. (2022) published “A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Growth Mindset Interventions: For whom, how, and why might such interventions work?” in Psychological Bulletin. Here’s the edited impact statement and abstract with some information in bold:

Growth mindset interventions are increasing in popularity in education and are being applied to improving other areas of functioning as well; however, there is debate about how well they work. Despite the large variation in effectiveness, we found positive effects on academic outcomes, mental health, and social functioning, especially when interventions are delivered to people expected to benefit the most. As growth mindset interventions increase in scope and popularity, scientists and policymakers are asking: Are these interventions effective? To answer this question properly, the field needs to understand the meaningful heterogeneity in effects. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we focused on two key moderators with adequate data to test: Subsamples expected to benefit most and implementation fidelity. We also specified a process model that can be generative for theory. We included articles published between 2002 (first mindset intervention) through the end of 2020 that reported an effect for a growth mindset intervention, used a randomized design, and featured at least one of the qualifying outcomes. Our search yielded 53 independent samples testing distinct interventions. We reported cumulative effect sizes for multiple outcomes (i.e., mindsets, motivation, behavior, end results), with a focus on three primary end results (i.e., improved academic achievement, mental health, or social functioning). Multilevel metaregression analyses with targeted subsamples and high fidelity for academic achievement yielded, d = 0.14, 95% CI [.06, .22]; for mental health, d = 0.32, 95% CI [.10, .54]. [Cohen's d = The expected difference between the means between an experimental group and a control group, divided by the expected standard deviation. It is used in estimations of necessary sample sizes of experiments.]

Results highlighted the extensive variation in effects to be expected from future interventions. Namely, 95% prediction intervals for focal effects ranged from −0.08 to 0.35 for academic achievement and from 0.07 to 0.57 for mental health. The literature is too nascent for moderators for social functioning, but average effects are d = 0.36, 95% CI [.03, .68], 95% PI [−.50, 1.22]. We conclude with a discussion of heterogeneity and the limitations of meta-analyses. 

I am a fan of growth mindset research but like the fact that this meta-analysis emphasizes diversity in findings and importance of both the target population and implementation of strategies. The second study similarly attempts to focus on a construct – this time meaning in life – and its relationship to shared positivity. Prinzing, Le Nguyen & Fredrickson (2023) published “Does Shared Positivity Make Life More Meaningful? Perceived positivity resonance is uniquely associated with perceived meaning in life” in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Here’s the edited abstract with some bold for emphasis.

Pleasantness and meaningfulness are sometimes seen as opposing pursuits. Yet past research has found that the pursuit of meaning often leads to pleasure. In four longitudinal studies—three observational, one experimental, ranging from 5 weeks to 18 months—we investigated an inverse process, whereby specific kinds of pleasant states can foster a sense of meaning in life. We hypothesized that perceptions of positivity resonance, a form of coexperienced positive affect characterized by mutual care and synchrony, are experienced as particularly meaningful in the moment and, over time, build social resources (e.g., supportive relationships and communities) that foster an enduring sense of meaning in life. Results indicate that perceived positivity resonance is associated with perceived meaning both between- and within-persons, links that emerge independently of overall pleasant emotion and social interaction quantity. Perceived social resources mediate between-persons links, and changes in perceived social resources mediate longitudinal links. Overall, these findings suggest that coexperienced, caring, and synchronous pleasant states may be uniquely suited to cultivating a person’s sense that life is meaningful. 

I like this study because, like a recent one on parental burnout and emotional suppression, it emphasizes the flip side of those phenomena. When people share caring and synchronous pleasant states with others, they build the social network they need to find life meaningful. I also see this study as related to growth mindset in that a growth mindset depends on the belief that you can grow and change.