Stress mindset and well-being: The indirect effect of self-connection

Abstract

Understanding how and why stress-related mindsets result in various outcomes is important for understanding how stress mindset interventions can promote well-being. Recent research suggested that mindsets about stress might work together with self-connection to predict well-being. However, the nature of those relationships remains unclear. Across two studies, we tested two models regarding how stress mindset, self-connection, and perceived stress related to various aspects of one's well-being. We surveyed both students (n = 188) and employed adults (n = 355) regarding their stress mindset, self-connection, stress, personal burnout, role-related burnout, life satisfaction, and psychological flourishing. Consistent with past research, self-connection buffered the negative effects of holding a maladaptive stress mindset on life satisfaction and psychological flourishing. However, this only emerged among college students and did not generalize to other aspects of well-being. In contrast, both college students and employed adults demonstrated indirect effects of perceived stress and self-connection on relationships between stress mindset and various measures of well-being. This is consistent with the idea that one's mindset about stress cultivates a recursive cycle that promotes self-connection and, in turn, well-being. Additional research is necessary to extend this research and understand how to promote self-connection and use it to facilitate greater well-being.