Role of self‐esteem in the association between mindset of socioeconomic status and well‐being: A cross‐lagged panel analysis

Abstract

AbstractPeople who believe that their socioeconomic status (SES) can be changed—with growth mindset or incremental implicit theory of SES—tend to have better psychological well‐being. Nevertheless, it remains unclear on why growth mindset of SES benefits well‐being. The present research aims to answer this question by investigating the longitudinal associations between mindset of SES and well‐being (i.e. depression and anxiety) and a potential mechanism (i.e. self‐esteem). We recruited 600 adults in Guangzhou, China, as participants in this study. Participants completed a list of questionnaires containing measures of mindset of SES, self‐esteem, depression, and anxiety at three time points over the course of 18 months. The cross‐lagged panel model showed that individuals holding a growth mindset of SES reported significantly lower depression and anxiety 1 year later, but the effect was not sustained later. More importantly, self‐esteem accounted for the associations of mindset of SES with both depression and anxiety, such that individuals with growth mindset of SES had higher self‐esteem, and in turn, demonstrated lower depression and anxiety over 18 months. These findings deepen the understanding of the salutary effects of implicit theories of SES on psychological well‐being. Implications for future research and mindset‐related interventions are discussed.