A Test of the Growth Mindset Compensatory Message in the Context of Youth Mental Health

Identifying effective, efficient, and scalable mental health growth mindset interventions that harness the benefits of growth mindsets without the costs is critical. In the current work, we tested the potential to leverage compensatory messaging in a growth mindset intervention to improve mental health in youth. The intervention seeks to foster a stronger belief that people and emotions can and do change, while de-emphasizing self-blame. We developed and tested “Healthy Minds,” an interactive single-session 30-minute online growth mindset intervention, with high-school youth (N = 457, age range: 13–19) in a rural southern community. We randomly assigned participants to take Healthy Minds or an attention-matched health-oriented control. Results indicate that Healthy Minds is a promising intervention for fostering stronger growth mindsets and greater self-efficacy for managing depressive symptoms, while also reducing self-blame and avoidant coping. These results can improve the delivery of growth mindset interventions designed to address adolescent mental health issues. We conclude with a discussion of potential boundary conditions and future directions.