Inside the Minds of Adolescents

    The adolescent mindset is a term that refers to the way of thinking and behaving that is typical of young people between the ages of 10 and 19. Adolescents are often curious, adventurous, creative, and willing to challenge the status quo. They seek new experiences and learn from trial and error. They also face many changes and challenges in their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Some of these challenges include coping with academic pressure, forming their identity, managing peer relationships, and dealing with stress.

    According to some researchers, having a growth mindset can help adolescents overcome these challenges and achieve their goals. A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities and traits can be improved through effort, strategies, and feedback. A growth mindset contrasts with a fixed mindset, which is the belief that one's abilities and traits are fixed and cannot be changed. People with a growth mindset tend to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, seek feedback, and learn from mistakes. People with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges, give up easily, ignore feedback, and feel threatened by others' success.

    A growth mindset can have positive effects on adolescents' academic performance, mental health, and well-being. For example, studies have shown that teaching adolescents about the malleability of intelligence can improve their grades, motivation, and resilience. Similarly, teaching adolescents about the malleability of personality can reduce their aggression, depression, and anxiety. Moreover, teaching adolescents about the benefits of stress can enhance their coping skills and health outcomes.

    In conclusion, the adolescent mindset is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that reflects both the opportunities and challenges of this developmental stage. Having a growth mindset can help adolescents navigate these challenges and achieve their potential. Therefore, it is important to foster a growth mindset in adolescents through education, mentoring, and support.

References: 

1.  Changing the World with an Adolescent Mindset : PSI
2.  Mindsets and adolescent mental health | Nature Mental Health
3.  Mindset and Motivation in Adolescence - ACT for Youth
4.  Early Adolescence and the Negative Mindset | Psychology Today
5.  Blackwell et al., 2007
6.  Yeager & Dweck, 2023
7.  Yeager et al., 2014
8.  Yeager et al., 2016
9.  Crum et al., 2014

Glycemic Index

The glycemic index (GI) is a number from 0 to 100 assigned to a food, with pure glucose arbitrarily given the value of 100. It represents the relative rise in the blood glucose level two hours after consuming that food¹. The glycemic index of a food is defined as the incremental area under the two-hour blood glucose response curve (AUC) following a 12-hour fast and ingestion of a food with a certain quantity of available carbohydrate (usually 50 g)¹. Foods with a high GI include white bread, bagels, naan, pita bread, white rice, jasmine rice, arborio rice, instant oats, breakfast cereals, mashed potatoes, potatoes, french fries, cake, doughnuts, cookies, croissants and muffins³. 

Knowing the glycemic index of the carbohydrates you eat can help you fine-tune your meals to keep your blood sugar levels in check. You can find more information on glycemic index charts for common foods on this link ².

(1) Glycemic index - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index.

(2) Glycemic Index: What It Is and How to Use It - Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/glycemic-index.

(3) Glycemic Index Chart for Common Foods - Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/glycemic-index-chart-for-common-foods-1087476.