Fresh Tri Co-Authors Peer-Reviewed Study on Groundbreaking Iterative Mindset in Behavioral Sciences

New research led by the Institute for Iterative Thinking (IFIT) and co-authored by Fresh Tri CEO Dr. Kyra Bobinet reveals a unique, measurable psychological framework that supports sustainable wellbeing and behavior change.

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh Tri, a neuroscience-backed behavior change company, has just announced the publication of a research paper in the peer-reviewed journal, Behavioral Sciences, detailing key findings and a validated measure of the Iterative Mindset.

Co-authored by Fresh Tri CEO Dr. Kyra Bobinet, Dr. Jeni Burnette and Whitney Becker (University of North Carolina), and Mallory Rowell (Director of Research Strategy, Institute for Iterative Thinking), the study introduces a new, validated proprietary psychometric tool, the Iterative Mindset Inventory (IMI). The IMI measures the strength of a person's Iterative Mindset, or the degree to which an individual utilizes iteration as a key component of their personal growth. By psychologically neutralizing failure, an Iterative Mindset allows for the development and sustainability of behavior change through repeated practice, habit formation, and iterative sustained effort over time.

In this open access paper, titled "Personal Growth and Wellbeing: An Iterative Mindset Assessment and Perspective," Bobinet and her team sought, in the study, to establish and codify a new framework for personal growth and evaluate its relationship to other psychological constructs as well as its potential effect upon sustainable behavior change. They introduce a unique concept, the Iterative Mindset, defined as a dynamic, three-part psychological process that encompasses three components: iterate, practice, and assess. Fresh Tri calls these components, coordinated together, the Iterative Mindset Method™.

In two adult samples (N = 871 and 345), the authors found that the Iterative Mindset is in fact distinct from other well-known mindsets (e.g., growth mindset), and has strong validity when compared to personality traits (e.g., The Big Five). As such, disseminating these findings presents an opportunity to measure and evaluate the power of iteration across a variety of contexts.

Most importantly, using the IMI, the authors discovered that Iterative Mindsets predicted two key health outcomes—success in long-term weight management and wellbeing—more powerfully than growth mindsets, personality traits (e.g., optimism), or even grit. Higher Iterative Mindset scores were also associated with improved self-efficacy and lower stress and burnout. These findings suggest that understanding an individual's degree of Iterative Mindset using the IMI may help explain why some other behavior change models fail to create sustainable changes—because they are not based on or do not take into account the Iterative Mindset. Iteration may present a path to long-term success.

The Iterative Mindset provides a new foundation for designing interventions that prioritize progress over perfection—an approach reflected in Fresh Tri's platform and workplace wellbeing solutions. The IMI provides a new way to evaluate the impact of these interventions on individuals under this new paradigm.

About Fresh Tri

Fresh Tri is a behavior change company that empowers individuals to build lasting healthy habits through a science-backed habit building app, mindset coaching, and neuroscience-based design. The Fresh Tri platform is used by employers, health systems, and individuals to promote sustainable health change, reduce burnout, and improve outcomes—without relying on shame, endless tracking, rigid goals or perfectionism.

SOURCE Fresh Tri