The Robust Incremental Beliefs about Emotions Scale for elementary school Children (RIBES-C).

Beliefs on malleability are related to a wide range of emotional, motivational, and cognitive constructs. Endorsing an incremental mindset has been revealed beneficial and it is associated with a better adaptation to external challenges, also in the learning contexts. Concerning beliefs about emotions, empirical research has predominantly focused on adults. Less is known about mindsets of emotions in children, partly because instruments measuring them are largely lacking. The present study evaluated beliefs about malleability of emotions in primary school students, by adapting and validating the child version of the Robust Implicit Beliefs about Emotions Scale (R-IBES). We involved a sample of 1,420 second and fourth-graders. We applied a combined approach using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Rasch modelling. EFA and CFA supported the bidimensional structure of the scale, distinguishing beliefs for positive and negative emotions. A measurement invariance analysis indicated that the scale was invariant across class level and gender. The Rasch model permitted to transform the scale into an instrument respecting the properties of fundamental measurement. In consecutive analyses discriminant and predictive validity of the scale were determined by investigating the relation of beliefs about malleability with emotion regulation and well-being. Moreover, a linear mixed model revealed that beliefs about malleability were higher for positive compared to negative emotions. Limitations and suggestions for future research, together with implications for utilizing the R-IBES scale to inform interventions to foster an incremental mindset, are discussed.