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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2025 Aug 25.
Published in final edited form as: J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2025 Aug 1;63(8):9–12. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20250710-02

Fostering a Growth Mindset

Empowering Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging to Unlock Lifelong Well-Being and Enhance Healthy Aging

Ladda Thiamwong 1
PMCID: PMC12371424  NIHMSID: NIHMS2104160  PMID: 40758994

Abstract

Despite increasing recognition of mental well-being in aging, conversations around healthy aging still disproportionately emphasize physical health, often overlooking the critical role of mental health. As the global population ages, fostering positive self-perceptions of aging and cultivating a growth mindset are essential for promoting cognitive vitality, emotional resilience, and overall life satisfaction. Real-world skill-building activities, such as language learning and digital literacy, combined with technologies, such as virtual reality, are especially impactful when relevant, progressively challenging, and applicable to daily life. These activities, supported by peer learning groups, regular feedback, and intergenerational collaboration with tech-savvy youth, create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. Together, these strategies empower older adults to remain engaged, confident, and purposeful, laying the foundation for holistic and healthy aging.

Graphical Abstract

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More than 10 million U.S. adults live with at least one mental illness, but only one half of these individuals receive treatment (National Institute of Mental Health, 2025). Mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness, can lead to unhealthy behaviors, decreased functional ability, cognitive decline, and increased risk of suicide, particularly in older adults. Safeguarding mental health is a cornerstone of healthy aging. Healthy aging is a positive process that balances interaction among the mind, body, and environment (Thiamwong et al., 2013). Staying cognitively, physically, and socially active for as long as possible is crucial to maintaining healthy aging and preventing mental illnesses (Thiamwong & Pungchompoo, 2018). Despite growing awareness of the importance of mental well-being, discussions around healthy aging still tend to focus heavily on physical health, whereas mental and social health remain underemphasized. The ageist assumption may also lead to exaggerating the symptoms of mental illnesses, such as depression. Moreover, older adults are often excluded from mental health research, and routine mental health screenings are rarely conducted in this group, which limits the development of age-appropriate treatments (Reynolds et al., 2022). Preventing and treating mental illnesses not only enhances emotional well-being and supports brain health but also protects against cognitive decline and chronic disease. Furthermore, positive elements of aging, including wisdom, resilience, perception, and prosocial behaviors, need to be underscored and promoted to help protect mental health and combat stigma (Reynolds et al., 2022).

THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF SELF-PERCEPTION OF AGING

Self-perception of aging refers to how individuals view their own aging process or their evaluation of their age toward the aging process that can inform their attitudes toward aging (Sun et al., 2017). A community-based and longitudinal study of adults aged ≥50 years (N = 660) found that individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions (Levy et al., 2002). In addition, a systematic review of 21 studies indicated that more positive self-perceptions of aging were consistently associated with healthier longitudinal outcomes, including better performance of activities of daily living, less obesity, greater longevity, less depression, and better cognitive functioning (Tully-Wilson et al., 2021). A descriptive qualitative study involving 13 college students over a 5-week photovoice aging research project revealed that structured discussions on aging, debunking common myths, and engaging with multimedia, including a 12-minute TED talk about embracing aging and a 5-minute video of healthy aging combined with personal reflection, encouraged college students to adopt a more proactive approach to their long-term health (Ekwonye et al., 2023). College students shifted from holding negative stereotypical views of older adults to envisioning a more positive and empowered version of their own future selves (Ekwonye et al., 2023).

GROWTH MINDSET IN AGING: MEASUREMENT AND INTERVENTIONS

Effort and action help individuals grow and improve throughout their lives. The talents, strengths, and intelligence of individuals with a growth mindset can improve through these efforts and actions (Xiao et al., 2025). Older adults with a growth mindset are more likely to engage in a wide range of behaviors and activities that support healthy aging. Growth mindset is associated with motivation, achievement, and well-being (Sigmundsson et al., 2020). A growth mindset reflects the belief that age-related challenges can be overcome and that personal development is lifelong. This mindset shapes individuals’ perceptions of aging, influencing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. As such, cultivating a growth mindset is a vital pillar of healthy aging (Xiao et al., 2025).

Growth mindset can be measured using a revised growth mindset tool for older adults, which includes four domains: health, personality, intelligence, and self-security ability (Xiao et al., 2025). Another growth mindset tool, which comprises eight items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not like me at all, 5 = very much like me), was found applicable for individuals aged 16 to 85 years, and had a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.83 (Sigmundsson & Haga, 2024). Growth mindset interventions have expanded from the education field to mental health and aging fields, and delivery modes from face-to-face to internet intervention and now to virtual reality (VR) intervention using VR glasses or VR helmets (Schleider et al., 2019; Xiao et al., 2025). A group psychological counseling–based growth mindset intervention provides a novel pathway to fostering healthy behaviors for active aging (Xiao et al., 2025).

In their recent study, Sheffler et al. (2023) provided compelling evidence that a growth mindset can be developed, and a 3-month multi-skill learning intervention (e.g., learning photography, language, music) predicts cognitive gains in older adults. Participants who engaged in the intervention increased their growth mindset over time. Those with higher preexisting growth mindset levels showed greater cognitive gains at the posttest than those with lower initial levels. The study suggests that motivational beliefs, such as a growth mindset, can enhance learning outcomes and buffer against cognitive decline in aging populations (Sheffler et al., 2023). Encouraging a growth mindset in older adults may promote lifelong learning, improve mental agility, and support independence. This mindset also helps counteract age-related stereotypes that suggest older adults are less capable of learning new skills (Sheffler et al., 2023).

THE INTERSECTION OF GROWTH MINDSET AND TECHNOLOGIES

Several technologies promote a growth mindset, especially in learning and development environments. A single-session VR growth mindset intervention significantly outperformed its web-based counterpart in reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents (Schleider et al., 2019). A VR mindset intervention also offers a more immersive, active, and user-directed experience than a web-based mindset intervention for adolescent depression (Schleider et al., 2019). A scoping review of 40 articles revealed that VR mental health interventions can maintain cognitive function and improve mental health in older adults (Li & Muschalla, 2024). In addition, several commercial technologies potentially enhance a growth mindset, including (a) mental health and reflection applications (apps), such as Reflectly: a journaling app that encourages self-reflection and positive thinking; Woebot: an artificial intelligence (AI)–powered mental health chatbot that helps users reframe negative thoughts; and Headspace/Clam: promotes mindfulness, which supports emotional regulation and resilience; and (b) cognitive and brain training tools, such as CogniFit: used in personal and clinical settings to support cognitive health and Duolingo: uses gamification to promote persistence in language learning. Even these commercial technologies offer exciting opportunities to promote a growth mindset. Still, they may come with several limitations that can hinder their effectiveness, such as superficial engagement, which can lead to short-term boosts in motivation but limited long-term change in beliefs or behavior. In addition, lack of contextual sensitivity, such as poverty and discrimination, that shape a person’s mindset, may lead to blaming individuals for not trying hard enough rather than addressing broader barriers. Furthermore, the commercial platforms use generic content that may not resonate with diverse users or address their specific challenges (Burnette et al., 2023).

EMBED THE GROWTH MINDSET IN A REAL-WORLD SKILL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Enhancing the growth mindset involves creating environments and opportunities that encourage self-belief, learning, and resilience, and provide older adults with cognitive gains that are more generalizable to the tasks of daily life and help them adapt in a dynamic environment (Charness & Boot, 2009). Embedding the growth mindset in a real-world environment for older adults requires a thoughtful blend of psychological support, instructional design, and social engagement. For example, using language that emphasizes effort—“You’re improving with practice!”—normalizes mistakes as part of learning and shares stories of others who succeeded through persistence. Notably, a growth mindset thrives more effectively in real-world learning environments enriched with appropriate resources compared to a computer-based program (Sheffler et al., 2023). Appropriate learning resources, including learning materials and supportive instructors/mentors/peers, allow older adults to learn and capture growth mindset–oriented behaviors without worrying about objective evaluation from a computer-based program (Sheffler et al., 2023).

CONCLUSION

As the global population grows older, safeguarding mental health is essential to achieving healthy aging. Nurses play a pivotal role in shaping positive self-perceptions of aging and nurturing a growth mindset in older adults, key drivers of cognitive vitality, emotional resilience, and overall well-being. Real-world skill-building activities, such as language learning, cooking, photography, gardening, and digital literacy, are especially effective when they are relevant, transferable to daily life, and structured to progress from simple to more complex tasks. Celebrating small achievements helps build confidence and motivation. Equally important is providing emotional and cognitive support throughout the learning journey, addressing fears of failure, offering mental health resources when needed, and reinforcing the value of lifelong learning. A support environment that includes peer learning groups, regular feedback, and intergenerational collaboration with tech-savvy youth fosters engagement, connection, and sustained growth. Together, these strategies empower older adults to thrive and age with purpose and dignity.

Funding:

This work was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R01MD018025, PI: L. Thiamwong). The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. This work was also supported by the Florida Blue Foundation (Florida Blue Endowed Professor for Healthy Communities: L. Thiamwong).

Footnotes

Disclosure: The author has disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

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