Growth mindset and career decision-making self-efficacy of Chinese preservice teachers: Failure avoidance and self-esteem

This research examined the effect of growth mindset on the career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) of preservice teachers, as well as the moderating role of the motive to avoid failure between growth mindset and self-esteem, and the mediating role of self-esteem between growth mindset and CDMSE. We collected questionnaire data from a convenience sample of 797 preservice teachers in China, testing the hypothesized relationships using SmartPLS 4.0. The findings indicated that growth mindset directly increased CDMSE among preservice teachers, and that this effect was partially mediated by self-efficacy. Failure avoidance motive acted as a moderator, enhancing the connection between growth mindset and self-efficacy. This study extends the literature by clarifying how growth mindset predicts CDMSE in preservice teachers through self-esteem, and how this pathway is strengthened by a high motive to avoid failure, offering new insights for targeted interventions in teacher education.