The Relationship Between Grit and Well-being and Its Importance for Students and Academic Progression

Abstract

Grit, defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, has been associated with several positive life outcomes, including academic success, professional achievement and psychological well-being. While previous studies have frequently examined grit in relation to educational performance, fewer have explored how grit interacts with different dimensions of well-being within higher education populations. This study investigates the relationship between grit and well-being among university students, focusing on whether and how grit is associated with different dimensions of well-being, while also examining the role of demographic factors such as age, gender, sleep duration and academic performance.

A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected in spring 2023 from students at the University of Akureyri and the University of Iceland, using a convenience sampling approach. Data from 234 valid responses were analysed (response rate: 13.33%). The survey included the 10-item Short Grit Scale (Grit-S; Duckworth & Quinn, 2009), measuring two components: consistency of interest and perseverance of effort. Well-being was assessed using the 7-item Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS; Stewart-Brown et al., 2009), which captures both hedonic (short-term pleasure, emotional satisfaction) and eudaimonic (long-term purpose, personal growth and social connectedness) aspects of well-being. Responses were given on 5-point Likert scales, and demographic variables included age, gender, average grade and self-reported sleep duration.