The mindset–achievement association is significantly weaker in more culturally distant (non-WEIRD) countries for reading and science, and marginally for math¶

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 The growth mindset × cultural distance interaction significantly predicted reading (b = -64.95, p = .003) and science scores (b = -45.82, p = .033), and marginally predicted math (b = -31.81, p = .066), indicating a weaker mindset–achievement association in non-WEIRD cultures. → 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

Multilevel moderation analysis (Model B, PISA 2018) treating cultural distance as a moderator of the student-level mindset–achievement slope. The article reports "reading: b = -64.95, β = -.32" and science significant, math only marginal at p = .066.

"PISA science and reading scores were significantly predicted by the interaction between growth mindset and cultural and psychological distance (reading: b = -64.95, β = -.32, se = 21.65, p = .003; science: b = -45.82, β = -.24, se = 21.47, p = .033). PISA math score was marginally predicted by this interaction (b = -31.81, β = -.18, se = 17.27, p = .066)."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Cultural and psychological distance does not significantly predict PISA scores in reading, science, or math in covariate-adjusted models — related
• Growth mindset is positively associated with PISA reading, science and math performance overall (Model B standardized βs .21, .20, .16) — related
• Students in countries culturally more distant from the US (less WEIRD) endorse growth mindsets less, r(46) = -.47 — related
• Growth mindsets associate with higher US mathematics scores but slightly lower Chinese mathematics scores (country × mindset interaction) — related