Grit: A Potential Protective Factor Against Substance Use and Other Risk Behaviors Among Latino Adolescents

Positive character and psychological well-being: A nuanced examination among adolescents from diverse rural-urban and migration contexts

INTRODUCTION

Positive character is an integral component of positive youth development that relates to psychological well-being among adolescents, yet the literature has largely overlooked its within-group variation. This study examined the latent profiles of positive character and explored their variation in psychological well-being across four adolescent groups (i.e., migrant, left-behind, rural local, and urban local adolescents) within each profile.

METHODS

A diverse sample of 15,895 adolescents from 10 provinces of China (Meanage = 13.16, SD = 2.53; 47.5% girls) completed a cross-sectional survey on positive character and psychological well-being in 2017. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted based on four positive characters. We investigated the distribution of each positive character profile across subgroups, as well as if and how the psychological well-being varied across different adolescent groups within each profile.

RESULTS

LPA revealed three subgroups, including "Thriving" (53.6%), "Moderate" (39.1%), and "Lagging" (7.4%) positive character profiles. The "Thriving" profile was more prevalent among the urban local (58.5%) and migrant (55.8%) adolescent groups, while the "Lagging" profile was most prevalent among the left-behind adolescent group (11.6%). Urban local and migrant adolescents tended to show better psychological well-being compared to rural local and left-behind adolescents, and the disparities were generally more pronounced under the "Thriving" profile as compared to the "Moderate" and "Lagging" profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Three positive character profiles were captured among four groups of Chinese adolescents varied in parental migration status and rural-urban residency. Tailored youth development programs are needed for different groups of adolescents varying in positive character profiles.

Risk and protective factors for substance use and media addictive behaviors in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' substance use, digital media use, and symptoms of internet, gaming, and social media addiction.

METHOD

A nationally representative longitudinal cohort of 1665 Israeli teens and preteens, aged 9-16, completed questionnaires assessing substance use prevalence, daily screen time, symptoms of media addiction, and potential risk and protective factors. Data were collected before the pandemic (October 2019), after the second wave lockdown (November 2020), and after the fifth wave (April 2022) in Israel.

RESULTS

The analysis documented significant increases in substance use, daily screen time, and social media addiction indices over time. Gratitude, life satisfaction, positive emotions, future orientation, grit, and secure attachment emerged as significant protective factors. Sensation-seeking, negative emotions, and mental health symptoms were identified as risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of educational and public mental health services in addressing the pandemic's long-term impact on the mental health and addictive behaviors of adolescents. They also emphasize the significance of enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors to effectively mitigate substance and digital media abuse among adolescents.

Mindset matters: contributions from grit and growth mindsets to successful aging

OBJECTIVE

Though we all age, some age more successfully than others. Health and social connections have been identified as cornerstones to successful aging, yet the contributions from psychological factors are less clear. Our goal was to examine the influence of grit and growth mindset in successful aging in middle and older age. We also assessed whether grit or growth mindset mediated the lifestyle-successful aging relationship.

METHOD

We used a telephone questionnaire to measure grit and growth mindset, successful aging, and lifestyle for 263 adults, ages 40-80 years.

RESULTS

Higher grit-effort and growth mindset predicted more successful aging in younger (40-64 years) and older groups (65-80 years). Additionally, exercise frequency predicted successful aging for the combined sample and partially mediated the relationship between growth mindset and successful aging.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal grit-effort and a growth mindset as important contributors to successful aging in middle and older adulthood. Because psychological constructs are malleable, continued study of grit and growth mindsets is essential to enable their eventual application in changing the aging process.

Associations between personality and psychological characteristics and cognitive outcomes among older adults

Prior research has shown that some personality traits are associated with cognitive outcomes and may confirm risk or protection against cognitive decline. The present study expands on previous work to examine the association between a more comprehensive set of psychological characteristics and cognitive performance in a diverse cohort of older adults. We also examine whether controlling for brain atrophy influences the association between psychological characteristics and cognitive function. A total of 157 older adults completed a battery of psychological questionnaires (Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, positive affect, negative affect-sadness, negative affect-anger, sense of purpose, loneliness, grit, and self-efficacy). Cognitive outcomes were measured across multiple domains: episodic memory, semantic memory, executive function, and spatial ability. Baseline brain (MRI) variables included gray matter, hippocampus, and total white matter hyperintensity volume. Parallel process, multilevel models yielded intercept (individual cognitive domain scores) and linear slope (global cognitive change) random effects for the cognitive outcomes. Positive affect (β = 0.013, SE = 0.005, p = .004) and Openness (β = 0.018, SE = 0.007, p = .009) were associated with less cognitive change, independent of baseline brain variables and covariates. Greater sadness predicted more cognitive decline when controlling for covariates, but not brain atrophy. A variety of psychological characteristics were associated with the cross-sectional measures of cognition. This study highlights the important impact of positive and negative affect on reducing or enhancing the risk of longitudinal cognitive decline. Such findings are especially important, given the available efficacious interventions that can improve affect. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Adolescent Feelings on COVID-19 Distance Learning Support: Associations With Mental Health, Social-Emotional Health, Substance Use, and Delinquency

PURPOSE

School social support is associated with improved adolescent wellbeing. However, positive school relationships were potentially disrupted when schools transitioned to distance learning in 2020 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study investigated associations among perceived distance learning school support, mental health, social-emotional wellbeing, substance use, and delinquency among low-income, public high school students.

METHODS

We analyzed longitudinal survey data, collected between June 2020 and June 2021, from 372 students attending five large urban public high schools. Mixed-effects regression models examined associations among changes in distance learning support and changes in mental health, social-emotional wellbeing, substance use, and delinquency, controlling for time, social-demographics, and baseline health.

RESULTS

In this predominantly Latinx (83%) sample, within-person increases in perceived distance learning support were associated with improved mental health, increased grit, increased self-efficacy, and decreased stress. Between-person differences in distance learning support indicated that students reporting greater support had improved mental and social-emotional outcomes. Although there were no within-person associations among distance learning support and hopelessness or delinquency, students with greater distance learning support (between-person) had lower levels of hopelessness and lower odds of engaging in any delinquent behavior. There were no associations between distance learning support and 30-day substance use.

DISCUSSION

School social support, even without students physically on campus, may be critical to adolescent health behaviors and social-emotional outcomes.

Outcome of the AVID College Preparatory Program on Adolescent Health: A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Academic tracking is a widespread practice, separating students by prior academic performance. Clustering lower performing students together may unintentionally reinforce risky peer social networks, school disengagement, and risky behaviors. If so, mixing lower performing with high performing youth ("untracking") may be protective, leading to better adolescent health.

METHODS

Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID), a nationally-disseminated college preparatory program, supports placing middle-performing students in rigorous college-preparatory classes alongside high-performing peers. We conducted the first randomized, controlled trial of AVID in the United States, randomizing 270 students within 5 large public high schools to receive AVID (AVID group) versus usual school programming (control group). Participants completed surveys at the transition to high school (end of eighth grade/ beginning of ninth grade) and the end of ninth grade. Intent-to-treat analyses tested whether AVID resulted in healthier social networks (primary outcome), health behaviors, and psychosocial wellbeing.

RESULTS

At follow-up, AVID students had lower odds of using any substance (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-0.89) and associating with a substance-using peer (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.45-0.98), and higher odds of associating with a peer engaged in school (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11-2.70). Male AVID students had lower stress and higher self-efficacy, grit, and school engagement than control students (P < .05 for all). No adverse health effects among high-performing peers were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

AVID positively impacts social networks, health behaviors, and psychosocial outcomes suggesting academic untracking may have substantial beneficial spillover effects on adolescent health.

Association of grit and overall survival in patients undergoing nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma

Background

Quantifying grit with the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) has shown ability to predict success in various academic and professional domains. Grit has yet to be analyzed in patients with cancer.

Methods

This study is a longitudinal analysis of prospectively distributed Grit-S surveys to patients undergoing radical or partial nephrectomy. Patients who completed a preoperative Grit-S survey with confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were included in the analysis. The relationship between preoperative grit scores and overall survival (OS) was determined using Cox proportional-hazard models and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

A total of 323 patients with RCC that completed the Grit-S survey prior to nephrectomy were included in the study. Median Grit score was 3.9. Most patients were male (67.5%), White (69.3%), and greater than 60 years old (57.0%) with a median age of 62 at the time of surgery. Patients scoring above or below the median grit score had similar baseline characteristics. As a binary variable, lower preoperative grit was significantly associated with shorter OS [hazard ratio (HR) =2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12-3.63, P=0.019] on multivariable analysis. Unit changes in grit were not significantly associated with OS (HR =0.77, 95% CI: 0.53-1.14, P=0.193).

Conclusions

Lower grit scores may predict decreased OS in RCC patients undergoing nephrectomy. The Grit-S survey may have utility in preoperative evaluation. Further research assessing grit in other malignancies and how to psychologically optimize patients prior to surgery are needed.

Validating the Chinese Version of the Academic Grit Scale in Selected Adolescents

This study evaluated the factor structure, measurement invariance, criterion-related and incremental validity of the Chinese version of the Academic Grit Scale (AGS) among 723 adolescents from mainland China. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the single-factor model, exhibiting scalar invariance across gender and partial scalar invariance across groups (i.e., middle and high school students). The AGS total score showed internal consistency and temporal stability when used one month later. Moreover, academic grit was shown to be positively correlated with academic achievement, general grit, and dimensional student engagement. Academic grit also predicted academic achievement after isolating the effects of the related variables (i.e., general grit and student engagement) and overlapping components of academic grit and the related variables. Overall, the Chinese version of the AGS demonstrated adequate reliability and validity and was shown to be a useful tool for examining academic grit in Chinese adolescents.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mindfulness, and Grit in College Students in China

This study investigated the effect of ACEs and COVID-19 on grit and whether this effect is mediated by mindfulness. Although current scholarship has found that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have harmful consequences to individuals across the life span, less is known about the relationship between ACEs and grit. Grit is predictive of educational success and subjective wellbeing. A cross-sectional online survey administered to junior and senior students from 12 universities spread across China was conducted from September 20, 2020 to October 5, 2020. The universities were selected from geographically diverse regions of China to ensure a diverse sample. We received 1,871 completed responses from 2,229 invited students. The survey response rate was 83.9%. The results indicated that ACEs had significantly negative effects on grit, while mindfulness had significantly positive effects on grit. Once controlling for level of mindfulness, the effects of ACEs on grit largely reduced and became insignificant. The findings of this research indicate that mindfulness has a significant mediational effect on the relation between ACEs and grit and call for mindfulness-based interventions for enhancing grit for the population at risks.

Multidimensional Profiles of Addictive Smartphone Use: A Latent Profile Analysis

Given that crucial psychological attributes of smartphone addiction have been studied in isolation from each other, we examined latent profiles of emotional distress (depression, stress, loneliness, and fear of missing out; i.e., FoMO); protective traits (self-control, mindfulness, grit); the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and approach system (BAS; drive, reward responsiveness, and fun seeking) in relation to addictive smartphone use. We identified three distinctive profiles, using five fit statistics: AIC, BIC, adjusted BIC, an entropy, and LRT. The self-controlled, gritty, and mindful profile (22.7%) was characterized by heightened levels of self-control, grit, and mindfulness but lower levels of emotional distress, BIS, and BAS. The emotionally distressed profile (29.8%) was distinguished by elevated levels of depression, stress, loneliness, FoMO, and BIS, but relatively lower protective traits and BAS. Lastly, the approach sensitive profile (47.5%) corresponded to the normative group characterized by relatively higher BAS but mostly average levels of emotional distress and protective traits. When both global and pairwise comparisons between profiles were performed using Wald tests, we found that the self-controlled, gritty, and mindful profile was associated with significantly lower smartphone addiction tendencies than emotionally distressed or approach sensitive profiles, while the latter two did not differ from each other. These results still held when multiple covariates (age, sex, and income) were controlled for. Using a sophisticated person-centered approach, our findings underscore multidimensional psychological profiles that have different associations with smartphone addiction.

The Association Between Connectedness and Grit Among Thai In-school Adolescents in Urban Chiang Mai, Thailand

Aim

To investigate the associations between Grit, connectedness, and parental involvement in Thai adolescents. Grit, perseverance, and passion for long-term goals are predictors of academic success and health. There is a small but developing knowledge of the predictors of Grit in Asia, especially Thailand. This paper investigates the proposition that connectedness and parental involvement are positively associated with Grit.

Method

A total of 2,839 lower secondary (grade 8), higher secondary (grade 11), and vocational (year 12) students from 21 schools in Chiang Mai, Thailand participated in a survey that measured Grit using the Short Grit Scale. Bivariate analysis was conducted using the t-test, ANOVA, or Kruskal–Wallis H test as appropriate. Multiple ordinary least squares linear regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with Grit.

Results

Satisfactory relationships with teachers (p = 0.01), parental support (p = 0.03), interest in school (p = 0.01), having been asked by parents to do homework (β = −0.69; p = 0.012), and having been told by parents that they had done something bad (β = −1.09; p = 0.02) associated with Grit. These findings can aid in design of tailored interventions to improve Grit in Thai adolescents.

The Protective Role of Grit against Alcohol and Cannabis Use through Young Adulthood

Introduction: Problematic substance use in young adulthood is consistently related to negative outcomes later in life. Understanding the factors that protect against problematic substance provides opportunities for early preventive intervention. We examine the protective role of grit - passion and perseverance for long-term goals - on substance use through young adulthood, a period of heightening risks for substance use. Methods: In this research, we use cross-lagged panel models and data from the Victoria Healthy Youth Survey (N = 477, 52% female) to test the reciprocal within-time associations and the directional relationships between grit (passion and perseverance) and substance use (cannabis and alcohol) across three assessments (6 years, ages 18-29). All models controlled for sex and SES. Results: Significant findings show negative within-time associations between passions and perseverance and cannabis use at T1 (ages 18-24) and at T2 (ages 20-26), and significant, negative within-time associations between passion and perseverance and alcohol use (heavy episodic drinking) at T1 but not at T2. No significant across-time associations between passion and perseverance and substance use were found. Conclusion: Preventive interventions to enhance passion and perseverance may provide important targets for interventions for young adults to reduce current substance use. However, grit did not have an effect beyond the stability of cannabis use or alcohol use over time, suggesting effects may act by substituting proactive goals for current substance use.

The Effect of Grit on Career Adaptability of Chinese College Students Based on the Self-Regulatory Processes

Intelligence is innate, but grit is something everyone can develop. Grit not only enables students to stick to their goals, but also to persevere even when they fail. Career adaptability is an important concept in vocational education of college students, which is a person engaged in some work, must have a certain physical and psychological quality. Base on the self-regulation theory, this study investigated the relationship between grit and career adaptability of Chinese college student based on the self-regulatory processes. We surveyed 839 Chinese college students and tested a self-regulation model. As expected, grit was related to greater career adaptability via greater career exploration and decision self-efficacy, positive affect, and goal commitment. These findings not only broaden the theoretical framework for the effect of grit on career adaptability, but also open up a new horizon for improving college students' career adaptability in practice.

Risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents: a systematic review

Background

Drug abuse is detrimental, and excessive drug usage is a worldwide problem. Drug usage typically begins during adolescence. Factors for drug abuse include a variety of protective and risk factors. Hence, this systematic review aimed to determine the risk and protective factors of drug abuse among adolescents worldwide.

Methods

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was adopted for the review which utilized three main journal databases, namely PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science. Tobacco addiction and alcohol abuse were excluded in this review. Retrieved citations were screened, and the data were extracted based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria include the article being full text, published from the year 2016 until 2020 and provided via open access resource or subscribed to by the institution. Quality assessment was done using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tools (MMAT) version 2018 to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Given the heterogeneity of the included studies, a descriptive synthesis of the included studies was undertaken.

Results

Out of 425 articles identified, 22 quantitative articles and one qualitative article were included in the final review. Both the risk and protective factors obtained were categorized into three main domains: individual, family, and community factors. The individual risk factors identified were traits of high impulsivity; rebelliousness; emotional regulation impairment, low religious, pain catastrophic, homework completeness, total screen time and alexithymia; the experience of maltreatment or a negative upbringing; having psychiatric disorders such as conduct problems and major depressive disorder; previous e-cigarette exposure; behavioral addiction; low-perceived risk; high-perceived drug accessibility; and high-attitude to use synthetic drugs. The familial risk factors were prenatal maternal smoking; poor maternal psychological control; low parental education; negligence; poor supervision; uncontrolled pocket money; and the presence of substance-using family members. One community risk factor reported was having peers who abuse drugs. The protective factors determined were individual traits of optimism; a high level of mindfulness; having social phobia; having strong beliefs against substance abuse; the desire to maintain one’s health; high paternal awareness of drug abuse; school connectedness; structured activity and having strong religious beliefs.

Conclusion

The outcomes of this review suggest a complex interaction between a multitude of factors influencing adolescent drug abuse. Therefore, successful adolescent drug abuse prevention programs will require extensive work at all levels of domains.

Exploring the Conceptual Constructs of Learners' Goal Commitment, Grit, and Self-Efficacy

Although learners' success in learning has generally been attributed to cognitive factors, non-cognitive issues in education should be taken into consideration in the process of learning which affects learners' achievement. One of these issues, which become popular among researchers in the previous decade is grit, that is, posited as passion and perseverance thanks to its enduring quality and the other is self-efficacy. Another factor is goal commitment that talks about the way to reach a goal or insistent determinations to achieve a goal. The proposed review attempts to focus on these three factors in regulating students' learning achievement. Accordingly, some educational suggestions are offered for teachers, students, and syllabus designers.

Validación de la estructura psicométrica de las escalas Grit-O y Grit-S en el contexto colombiano y su relación con el éxito académico

Dentro de los constructos que se han estudiado en los últimos años como predictores del desempeño académico se encuentra el factor grit. En la presente investigación se realizaron dos estudios con el objetivo de adaptar y validar la escala Grit-O a un contexto colombiano, así como determinar la validez de criterio de la escala Grit-S por medio del desempeño académico en estudiantes universitarios. En el primer estudio (n = 500) se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio a través de un método de extracción de mínimos cuadrados no ponderados y un análisis factorial confirmatorio a través de un método de extracción de máxima verosimilitud. Los análisis arrojaron adecuados índices de validez y confiabilidad para las dos escalas (Grit-O y Grit-S) —siendo Grit-S la que presentó mejores índices de ajuste—, y la distribución de ítems por factor de la escala coincidió con la validación original. Sin embargo, los dos factores —perseverancia en el esfuerzo y consistencia en el interés— no se agruparon bajo el constructo grit. En el segundo estudio (n = 89) se observó la relación existente entre la puntuación obtenida en la escala Grit-S y diferentes indicadores de desempeño académico —promedio, número de materias perdidas, entre otros—. Para esto, se realizó un análisis de correlación y de regresión lineal múltiple, tras lo cual se encontraron correlaciones moderadas entre el puntaje total de la escala Grit-S y sus dos componentes con las medidas de desempeño académico. En el análisis de regresión se encontró que el puntaje total de la escala es mejor predictor del desempeño académico (.016**) que el puntaje de cada uno de los componentes de la escala por separado. Al final, en la discusión se comparan los hallazgos con validaciones realizadas en otros países y se dan algunas recomendaciones respecto al uso de la escala.

mHealth: Potentials and Risks for Addressing Mental Health and Well-Being Issues Among Nepali Adolescents

Adolescents are slowly being recognized as a generation, worldwide, that may require different policy approaches to improve staggering statistics on their failing well-being, including mental health. By providing the support to allow the next generation to achieve better mental health outcomes, they are going to be more economically successful and the future economic growth of nations can be better assured. Adoption of mobile-based health interventions (e.g., mHealth) has garnered a lot of attention toward this end. While mHealth interventions are growing in popularity, many researchers/policy-makers appear to have neglected assessing potential (indirect) costs/negative consequences from their use. Evidence from the developed world shows strong associations between extensive cell phone use and negative mental health outcomes, but similar research is minimal in developing world contexts. Additionally, the bulk of work on the outcomes of mobile phone use is studied using a unidirectional approach with blinders to front-end motivations. Using primary data from a large-scale, school-based survey of older adolescents in southwestern Nepal (N = 539), this work investigates such a tension between mobile/smartphone usage as a true mobile health (mHealth) opportunity in Nepal or as a potential problem, introducing additional deleterious well-being effects from over-use. Founded in Basic Psychological Needs Theory (BPNT), robust results of analyses using full structural modeling approaches (and traditional regression-based sensitivity analyses) indicate support for the BPNT framework in explaining statistically significant positive associations between bullying and anxiety, as well as, negative associations between bullying and grit, including evidence to support the mediating role of problematic mobile phone use in these relationships. More than 56% of the sample showed indicators of mild to moderate anxiety and over 10% claim experiences of bullying, coupled with over 75% of the sample scoring above the midline of a problematic mobile phone use scale, all of which motivates the relevance of our findings. Potential policy implications of these findings, and mention of other intriguing avenues for future work are further discussed.

Passion and Persistence: Investigating the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Grit in College Students in China

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to have deleterious effects on individuals across the life span, but less is known about how they affect grit, a strong predictor of achievements and well-being. This study seeks to investigate the effect of ACEs on grit in a sample of Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 1,871 students across 12 universities in China. Findings indicated a significant effect of ACEs on grit, particularly abuse and neglect dimensions of ACE. Since grit is particularly important for professional success, those who have experienced abuse and neglect victimization may struggle throughout their education, and subsequently, in their careers. This calls for interventions to buffer the effects of ACEs on grit.

Beyond Passion and Perseverance: Review and Future Research Initiatives on the Science of Grit

Grit, which is originally conceptualized as passion and perseverance for long-term goals, has been associated with optimal performance. Although previous meta-analytic and systematic reviews summarized how grit relates to performance outcomes, they possess considerable shortcomings, such as (a) absence of summary on the association of grit with well-being outcomes; (b) absence of discussion on social, psychological, and emotional mechanisms linking grit to well-being; and (c) lack of elaboration on how alternative models can resolve fundamental problems in the grit construct. This integrative review provides a comprehensive summary on the link of grit to performance and well-being outcomes. Importantly, it elaborates how alternative models can potentially address flaws in the existing grit theory. Future research directions are discussed on how to move forward the science of grit.

Exploring Student-Athlete Grit as a Mediator in the Relationships Between Parenting, Academic Success, and Mental Health Outcomes

Due to demand for high performance inside and outside of the classroom, student-athletes are a unique subsection of college students. Researchers have focused on investigating protective factors, which may enhance student-athlete well-being and academic success in higher education and reduce athlete burnout. The current study examined grit as a mediator between parenting behaviors and academic success, mental health outcomes, and burnout in higher education among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and Division II student-athletes (N = 202). Overparenting behaviors were negatively associated with psychological autonomy granting, mental health outcomes, and athlete burnout. Psychological autonomy granting behaviors were positively associated with grit and negatively associated with mental health outcomes and athlete burnout. Student-athlete grit mediated the relationship between overparenting behaviors and mental health outcomes. Clinical implications include improving student-athlete parent onboarding protocol; student-athlete psychoeducation; and preventative outreach and health promotion among athletes, athletic staff, and university practitioners. In summary, these findings suggest that parenting behaviors and grit are factors that require more attention in fostering student-athlete success.

Anxiety sensitivity and grit as mediators between childhood abuse and relapse risk for substance use

BACKGROUND

Childhood abuse is prevalent in those with substance use disorders (SUDs), and can lead to adverse consequences, including relapse to substance use following treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether anxiety sensitivity (AS) and grit mediate associations between childhood abuse and substance use relapse risk.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Patients on an inpatient detoxification and stabilization unit seeking treatment for SUDs (N = 702).

METHODS

Participants were administered self-report measures assessing childhood physical and sexual abuse (CPA/CSA), AS, grit, and relapse risk. A parallel mediation model was used to investigate the association between childhood abuse and relapse risk as mediated by AS and grit.

RESULTS

Anxiety sensitivity was associated with greater relapse risk (β = 0.29, t = 8.24, p < 0.001). Indirect effects of CPA and CSA on relapse risk through AS were statistically significant (CPA: β = 0.05, 95 % C.I. = 0.02-0.08; CSA: β = 0.04, 95 % C.I. = 0.01-0.07), indicating AS significantly mediated effects of both CPA and CSA on relapse risk. Grit was not a mediator, however, higher grit score was significantly associated with decreased relapse risk (β = -0.17, t = -4.90, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety sensitivity may be an important construct linking child abuse to relapse risk. Although grit may not mediate the effect of child abuse on relapse risk, it may be clinically relevant to relapse risk. As this sample consisted of treatment-seeking adults, the generalizability of results to other populations is uncertain. Future studies should investigate interventions targeting these constructs in this population.

Caregivers' Grit Moderates the Relationship Between Children's Executive Function and Aggression

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown that the impairment of executive function is positively related to aggression in children and adolescents. What is worth investigating is the moderator of such a relationship so that aggressive behavior can be reduced effectively in those who have executive function problems. The present study examined the association between executive function and two major subtypes of aggression (proactive and reactive aggression) and whether their caregivers' grit (perseverance) moderated such relationship.

METHOD

Executive function and reactive and proactive aggression were assessed in 254 children and adolescents aged 8-19 years old, and their caregivers' grit was measured.

RESULTS

Results show that caregivers' grit plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between children's executive function and proactive aggression after controlling for the covariates including the children's age, gender, and family income. Specifically, children's executive function became more negatively associated with proactive aggression when caregivers' grit was high while the association was positive when it was low. On the other hand, the association between children's executive function and reactive aggression did not vary across different levels of caregivers' grit.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that proactive aggression may be reduced in those who have better executive function by enhancing their caregivers' grit, which inform the design of interventions in adjunct with the current approach (e.g., executive function training) to reduce aggression in children and adolescents in the community.

Parental Motivational Perseverance Predicts Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms: An Intergenerational Analysis with Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

Adolescents' depressive symptoms are affected by a number of factors including life stress, gender, socio-economic status, and parental depression symptoms. However, little is known about whether adolescent depressive symptoms are also affected by parental motivational characteristics. The current study explores the relationship between parental motivational perseverance (i.e., parents' persistency in the face of setbacks and difficulties) and children's depressive symptoms during the adolescence, given the critical role of perseverance in psychological well-being. The predictive utility of two motivational characteristics relevant to perseverance: parents' growth mindset (i.e., one's belief about the malleability of human competence) and grit (i.e., perseverance for long term goals) were examined. Four hundred pairs of Japanese parents (82% mothers) and their adolescent children (50% females; average age at the time of the first assessment = 14.05 years; SD = 0.84) independently completed surveys measuring their growth mindset, grit, and depressive symptoms at two time points (approximately one year apart; attrition rate = 25%). The Actor-Partner Independence Model, a statistical model that accounts for inter-dependence between dyads (e.g., parents and children), was used to examine how parental motivational perseverance predicts the long-term change in their offspring's depressive symptoms. The results showed that parental grit led to the decrease in adolescents' depressive symptoms through the changes in adolescents' grit. On the other hand, parental growth mindset directly predicted the adolescents' depressive symptoms, and this was not mediated by the adolescents' growth mindset. These findings underscore the importance of parental motivational characteristics in regards to adolescents' depressive symptoms.

An examination of grit in black men who have sex with men and associations with health and social outcomes

AIMS

This study sought to examine the prevalence and correlates of grit in a sample of Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in Baltimore, Maryland.

METHODS

A trained research assistant administered the Short-Grit and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scales and surveyed participants of a community-based behavioral health intervention for demographic, health, and sexual behaviors.

RESULTS

Of 239 participants, two-thirds scored in the high grit category. A greater proportion of men with high grit demonstrated higher educational attainment, were employed in the prior 6 months, reported very good/excellent health, were human immunodeficiency virus-positive, scored < 16 on the CES-D, and had more friends who were gay. After controlling for other variables, high grit was associated with higher odds of having more friends who are gay and lower odds of alcohol use, unemployment, and a high CES-D score.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that grit could be an important mechanism upon which to focus health and behavioral interventions for BMSM.

THE SOCIAL ECONOMICS OF ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR AND MEASURING THE BEHAVIORAL CULTURE OF SCHOOLS

OBJECTIVES

Schools are thought to have an important impact on adolescent behaviors, but the mechanisms are not well understood. We hypothesize that there are measurable constructs of peer- and teacher-related extrinsic motivations for adolescent behaviors and sought to develop measures of school culture that would capture these constructs.

METHODS

We developed several survey items to assess school behavioral culture and collected self-reported data from a sample of adolescents age 14-17 attending high school in low income neighborhoods of Los Angeles. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to inform the creation of simple-summated multi-item scales. We also conducted a cultural consensus analysis to identify the existence of shared pattern of responses to the items among respondents within the same school.

RESULTS

From 1159 adolescents, six factors were identified: social culture regarding popular (Cronbach's alpha=0.84) and respected (alpha=0.83) behaviors, teacher support (alpha=0.86) and monitoring of school rules (alpha=0.85), valued student traits (alpha=0.67) and school order (alpha=0.68). Cultural consensus analysis identified a shared pattern of responses to the items among respondents at 8 of the 13 schools. School academic performance, which is based on standardized test results, is strongly correlated with social culture regarding popular behaviors (Pearson's correlation coefficient r=0.64), monitoring of school rules (r= 0.71), and school order (r= 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses did not support a single, overall factor that measures school culture. However, the six identified sub-scales might be used individually to examine school influence on academic performance and health behaviors.

All That Glitters Is Not Grit: Three Studies of Grit in University Students

The present research looked at the importance of the concept of grit in University students based on a mixed-method approach. Study 1 comprised 440 University students. All were given the Grit Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, the Office of National Statistics Well-being items and the Self-Control Scale. Levels of grit were significantly higher in female students, older students and postgraduates. Grit correlated highest with self-control. Study 2 looked at 340 University students. In addition to measuring self-control, mental well-being and grit, measures of resilience and mindsets were also added. A construct validity test of the Grit Scale showed that high grit scorers had significantly higher levels of self-control and mental well-being, were more resilient and were more likely to have a more growth oriented mindset. Grit varies with age and is most closely associated with the concept of self-control. The third study was a qualitative investigation with 10 successful graduates. Semi-structured interviews were coded using thematic analysis. Three broad themes emerged. The first, Passion and Perseverance, included themes of having short and long terms goals, resilience, dedication, and endurance. The second, Self-Control, included time management, self-awareness, prioritizing tasks and knowing strengths and weaknesses. The third theme identified was Positive Mindsets. This included having a positive attitude toward learning, the importance of feedback and constructive criticism and that success is not materialistic. The qualitative research has helped "unpack" concepts from the grit research and may enable University tutors to guide students better. Though these studies were only conducted in one English University, they have been stepping stones in our quest to discover what are the most important factors in determining student academic success? The development and piloting of our new Uni-Stride Scale, is the next step in this process.

Grit and the brain: spontaneous activity of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex mediates the relationship between the trait grit and academic performance

As a personality trait, grit involves the tendency to strive to achieve long-term goals with continual passion and perseverance and plays an extremely crucial role in personal achievement. However, the neural mechanisms of grit remain largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between grit and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) in 217 healthy adolescent students using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). We found that an individual’s grit was negatively related to the regional fALFF in the right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), which is involved in self-regulation, planning, goal setting and maintenance, and counterfactual thinking for reflecting on past failures. The results persisted even after the effects of general intelligence and the ‘big five’ personality traits were adjusted for. More importantly, the fALFF of the right DMPFC played a mediating role in the association between grit and academic performance. Overall, these findings reveal regional fALFF as a neural basis of grit and highlight the right DMPFC as a neural link between grit and academic performance.