Unlocking the power of growth mindset: strategies for enhancing mental health and well-being among college students during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic is continuously spreading across the world, including in Indonesia. this study investigates relationship positive mental health (PMH), psychological well-being (PWB), Growth Mindset (GM) and Grit dimensions (Consistency of Interest and perseverance of effort) among students college. A total of 802 students responded to the online questionnaires. The participants completed the Assessing positive mental health Scale, Mental Health Scale Inventory-5 (MHI-5), Growth Mindset scale, and The Short Grit Scale. Data were analysed using correlation and PLS-SEM. The findings revealed that growth mindset improves positive mental health and psychological well-being in college students. The results of the correlation analysis showed that there is a positive association between Positive Mental Health, Psychological well-being, Growth Mindset, Perseverance of Effort and Consistency of Interest. while negative association between Growth mindset and Consistency of Interest. Furthermore, this study found that Perseverance of Effort does serve as a significant mediator between Growth Mindset and Positive Mental Health as well as psychological well-being. Growth mindset leads to Positive Mental Health, but Perseverance of Effort could be a significant factor. Therefore, there is a need for parents, teachers, and peers to promote Perseverance of Effort at home and in college, which is essential in increasing growth mindset and Positive Mental Health and Psychological well-being. Based on the results of this study, the growth mindset combined with an increase in grit is critical to maintaining mental health during a pandemic. The implications of this research are discussed.