Fixed Intelligence Mindset Prospectively Predicts Students’ Self-Esteem

Abstract

Abstract. Dweck’s theory posits that intelligence mindsets have significant implications in individuals’ self-esteem and previous studies have also demonstrated a consistent link between these two constructs ( Conigrave et al., 2019 ; King, 2012 ; Zhao et al., 2019 ). However, little is known about their relationship across time. Does a fixed intelligence mindset contribute to lower levels of self-esteem or the opposite is true, viewing one’s abilities as something that is incapable of improvement is merely a symptom of low self-esteem? The present study sought to answer these questions by investigating the association between fixed intelligence mindset and self-esteem across a two-year period. The final sample of the study consisted of 103 freshmen college students aged between 18 and 36 years and participants were predominantly female ( N = 91) psychology students (56%). Cross-lagged hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the relationship between fixed intelligence mindset and self-esteem might be unidirectional since Time 1 fixed intelligence mindset predicted lower levels of self-esteem at Time 2 even when initial self-esteem and self-efficacy were accounted for. In contrast, Time 1 self-esteem showed no significant associations with Time 2 fixed intelligence mindset. Although the present study offers new insight about the prospective effects of fixed intelligence mindset, results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.