Watkinson A.D¹, McGann D¹, Riby L.M^1,

Research on fixed and growth mindset has primarily focused on goal achievement in such settings as education and sports performance. Although providing critical insights into the positive impacts of mindset, we cannot assume that a growth mindset is desirable in other domains such as psychological wellbeing. This pilot investigation focused on the relationship between growth, fixed mindset, and different components of wellbeing in a military population where unique stressors are anticipated. Sixty-three participants completed online self-report measures of mindset, focused explicitly on intelligence (growth mindset scale), personality (kind of person implicit theory scale) and the PERMA profiler measure of wellbeing. The results indicated that mindset accounted for significant variance in all aspects of wellbeing besides health and loneliness. A multiple regression analysis showed that a growth mindset regarding personality positively predicted positive emotion, engagement, meaning, accomplishment, and overall wellbeing. Interestingly, a growth mindset regarding intelligence was not a significant contributor to any of the PERMA factors. The results indicate that, within the targeted population, a growth mindset of personality is conducive to flourishing, whilst a mindset concerning intelligence is not a significant contributing factor. These data will provide the groundwork for studies exploring methods to support resilience in the armed forces.

mindset, growth mindset, fixed mindset, wellbeing, PERMA profiler, intelligence, personality, armed forces, military