Changes in Growth Mindset and Macro-Level Correlates Among American Adolescents: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analysis(2005–2023)

Given the persistent impacts of growth mindset during adolescence, a systematic understanding of its societal correlates and historical trajectory is indispensable for advancing the field. However, prior research has predominantly focused on its consequences, overlooking socio-cultural antecedents, and has lacked a quantitative synthesis of its long-term trends. This study addresses these gaps via cross-temporal meta-analysis, jointly investigating birth cohort changes in growth mindset among American adolescents and their associations with macro-contextual factors. Comprehensive database searches yielded 51 eligible studies (N = 25,702; k = 81). Results showed a slight yet significant decrease in growth mindset between 2005 and 2023 (b=-0.39, SE = 0.14, p < 0.01). Additionally, growth mindset was significantly correlated with key social indicators across four domains: economic conditions (e.g., Gini coefficient, unemployment rate), social connectedness (e.g., urbanization level, divorce rate, average household size), realistic threats (e.g., violent crime rate, internet penetration rate), and materialistic values—suggesting these factors may constitute societal antecedents of the observed decline. These findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions aimed at fostering growth mindset among American adolescents.