Growth mindset moderates the negative effect of AI employment threat perception on perceived employability, weakening it at higher mindset levels¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 2 studies · 2 associational r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The interaction of AI employment threat perception and growth mindset significantly and positively predicted perceived employability. → Chen H 2026 q2 i? Simple slope analysis showed the negative effect of AI threat on perceived employability was significant at low growth mindset but nonsignificant at high growth mindset. → Chen H 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Chen H 2026¶

Chen H (2026) When AI threatens my future career: growth mindset and perceived employability in Chinese college students' career decision making anxiety. Front. Psychol. 17:1933842. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1933842

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Moderation analysis with mean-centered variables in the 526-student survey found the interaction "significantly and positively predicted perceived employability" (b = 0.122, p = 0.014), indicating growth mindset buffered the negative effect, supporting H5.

"The interaction between AI employment threat perception and growth mindset significantly and positively predicted perceived employability, b= 0.122, SE = 0.049, t = 2.473, p = 0.014."

Chen H 2026 (2)¶

Chen H (2026) When AI threatens my future career: growth mindset and perceived employability in Chinese college students' career decision making anxiety. Front. Psychol. 17:1933842. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1933842

q2 · i? · associational · r2

Simple slope analysis at one SD below and above the growth mindset mean showed a significant negative effect at low mindset (b = −0.229, p < 0.001) but no significant effect at high mindset (b = −0.013, p = 0.832); equivalence was not tested.

"Under low growthmindset,AIemploymentthreatperceptionsignificantlyand negatively predicted perceived employability, b=− 0.229, SE = 0.060, t=−3.795, p <0.001.Underhighgrowthmindset,theeffect of AI employment threat perception on perceived employability wasnotsignificant, b=−0.013,SE =0.062, t=−0.213, p=0.832."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Motivation — moderator: an instructional effect differs with it

Related Claims¶

• The meta-analytic correlation between growth mind-set and academic achievement is weak (r = .10) — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it
• AI employment threat perception positively predicts career decision-making anxiety among Chinese college students — related
• AI employment threat perception negatively predicts perceived employability among Chinese college students — related
• Growth mindset weakens the indirect effect of AI employment threat perception on career decision-making anxiety through perceived employability — related
• Perceived employability negatively predicts career decision-making anxiety among Chinese college students — related
• Profiles also differ in self-perceived employability, and elevated AI-related threat is not necessarily incompatible with career preparation — related
• Perceived employability partially mediates the relationship between AI employment threat perception and career decision-making anxiety — related