Abstract
The world is changing, and successful adaptation to novelty lies through openness, curiosity, confidence, and a growth mindset – in other words, adaptability. Nevertheless, how can we say if one is adaptable or not? Can it be explained by one’s age, gender, or previous experience of adapting to change? Does the high level of adaptability associate with the performance on cognitive tests? This study aims to answer those questions by exploring young adults’ profiles of adaptability by using several indications: perceived adaptability, openness to experience, openness to changing viewpoints, curiosity, and mindset and their link to various individual characteristics. Results demonstrated the presence of four distinct adaptability profiles; respondents in profiles differed in age, gender, immigration status, problem-solving self-concept and abstract reasoning. This study contributes knowledge on the nature of adaptability and demonstrates the key role of mindset in individuals’ cognitive, behavioral, and affective adjustments to uncertainty and novelty.