Power of perception? Associations between perceived caregiver mindset beliefs and undergraduate student academic engagement

Previous research has explored the role of growth mindset and parental socialization as drivers of undergraduate success. We propose that students’ perceptions of their caregivers’ growth mindset beliefs might be associated with their academic engagement. This study examined how undergraduates’ own mindsets and perceptions of their caregivers’ mindsets relate to four components of academic engagement. Survey data from American undergraduate students (N = 1,417) were analyzed using structural equation modeling. On average, students possessed a growth mindset and perceived their caregivers as holding a growth mindset. Student growth mindset was positively associated with behavioral and emotional engagement and negatively associated with behavioral and emotional disaffection. Perceptions of caregiver growth mindset were associated with lower behavioral disaffection. Student growth mindset moderated the association between perceived caregiver mindset and emotional engagement. Findings highlight the association between motivational beliefs and academic behaviors through the lens of students’ experiences and perceptions of others.