Growth mindset is positively associated with PISA reading, science and math performance overall (Model B standardized βs .21, .20, .16)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 In multilevel models controlling for demographic and country covariates, growth mindset was significantly associated with higher reading (β = .21), science (β = .20), and math (β = .16) performance. → Wang 2026

Evidence¶

Wang 2026¶

Wang, Y., Tang, X., Wu, S., & Sun, X. (2026). Growth mindsets are less endorsed and less associated with academic performance in non-WEIRD cultures. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-026-00406-w

q3 · i2 · associational · r2

Three-level multilevel mixed-effects model (Model B) in Mplus with sampling weights, students nested in schools nested in countries, controlling for gender, age, social class, GDP per capita and population density. Printed coefficients: "reading (b = 18.94, β = .21"; the association is associational, not causal.

"significant main effects were found that a growth mindset was associated with higher performance in reading (b = 18.94, β = .21, se = 2.58, p < .001), science (b = 15.82, β = .20, se = 2.55, p < .001), and math (b = 12.62, β = .16, se = 2.09, p < .001, Table 1)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Mindset — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Motivation — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Cultural and psychological distance does not significantly predict PISA scores in reading, science, or math in covariate-adjusted models — related
• The mindset–achievement association is significantly weaker in more culturally distant (non-WEIRD) countries for reading and science, and marginally for math — related
• Students' individual growth mindset is positively associated with their odds of being academically resilient in PISA 2018 data across 79 countries — related
• Growth mindsets associate with higher US mathematics scores but slightly lower Chinese mathematics scores (country × mindset interaction) — related
• Students in countries culturally more distant from the US (less WEIRD) endorse growth mindsets less, r(46) = -.47 — related
• Growth mindset is associated with better PISA performance across SES levels, but appears less beneficial at low SES and advantaged students still achieve better outcomes — a narrower finding that bears on this claim