IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0288270.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does grit protect against the adverse effects of depression on academic achievement?

Author

Listed:
  • Jenna Kilgore
  • Amanda C Collins
  • Julie Anne M Miller
  • E Samuel Winer

Abstract

Depressive symptoms have been shown to be negatively related to academic achievement, as measured by grade point average (GPA). Grit, or the passion for and the ability to persevere toward a goal despite adversity, has been linked to GPA. Thus, grit may potentially buffer against the negative effects of depressive symptoms in relation to academic achievement. However, social desirability may might impact the validity of grit when assessed by self-report measures, so how these constructs are all related is unknown. The current study explored the relationship between depressive symptoms, grit, social desirability, and GPA among University students (N = 520) in the United States using a cross-sectional design. We conducted a moderated-moderation model to examine how social desirability moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms, grit, and GPA. Findings replicated prior work and indicated negative relationships between depressive symptoms and social desirability with GPA and a positive relationship, albeit non-significant, between grit and GPA. However, results suggest that grit did not moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and GPA when including social desirability in the model. Future research should investigate this relationship in a longitudinal setting to further examine how grit and depressive symptoms influence one another in academic domains.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenna Kilgore & Amanda C Collins & Julie Anne M Miller & E Samuel Winer, 2023. "Does grit protect against the adverse effects of depression on academic achievement?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(7), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0288270
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288270
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288270
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0288270&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0288270?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patou Masika Musumari & Arunrat Tangmunkongvorakul & Kriengkrai Srithanaviboonchai & Teeranee Techasrivichien & S Pilar Suguimoto & Masako Ono-Kihara & Masahiro Kihara, 2018. "Grit is associated with lower level of depression and anxiety among university students in Chiang Mai, Thailand: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Eisenberg Daniel & Golberstein Ezra & Hunt Justin B, 2009. "Mental Health and Academic Success in College," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-37, September.
    3. Brad Hodge & Brad Wright & Pauleen Bennett, 2018. "The Role of Grit in Determining Engagement and Academic Outcomes for University Students," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 59(4), pages 448-460, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nadia Nandlall & Lisa D. Hawke & Em Hayes & Karleigh Darnay & Mardi Daley & Jacqueline Relihan & Joanna Henderson, 2022. "Learning Through a Pandemic: Youth Experiences With Remote Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    2. Sarah Baird & Jacobus de Hoop & Berk Özler, 2013. "Income Shocks and Adolescent Mental Health," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 48(2), pages 370-403.
    3. Joanne M. Williams & Jillian Bradfield & Andrew Gardiner & Patricia Pendry & Laura Wauthier, 2024. "Co-Producing Paws on Campus: A Psychoeducational Dog-Facilitated Programme for University Students Experiencing Mental Health Difficulties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-21, August.
    4. Fatin Rohmah Nur Wahidah & Herdian Herdian, 2021. "Grit on Students in Indonesia," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 22(1), pages 385-396, August.
    5. Tim Baalmann, 2024. "Health-Related Quality of Life, Success Probability and Students’ Dropout Intentions: Evidence from a German Longitudinal Study," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(1), pages 153-180, February.
    6. Valentina N. Burkova & Marina L. Butovskaya & Ashley K. Randall & Julija N. Fedenok & Khodabakhsh Ahmadi & Ahmad M. Alghraibeh & Fathil Bakir Mutsher Allami & Fadime Suata Alpaslan & Mohammad Ahmad Ab, 2021. "Predictors of Anxiety in the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Global Perspective: Data from 23 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, April.
    7. Cong Yi & Jun Wei & Yonghe Ti & Jian-Bin Li, 2024. "Trajectories of Self-Control in Emerging Adulthood: Implications for Academic, Psychological, and Career Development among Chinese College Students," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(2), pages 641-664, April.
    8. Ertan Yörük, Ceren & Yörük, Barış K., 2012. "The impact of drinking on psychological well-being: Evidence from minimum drinking age laws in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(10), pages 1844-1854.
    9. Megan E. Beerse & Theresa Van Lith & Gregg D. Stanwood, 2019. "Is There a Biofeedback Response to Art Therapy? A Technology-Assisted Approach for Reducing Anxiety and Stress in College Students," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, May.
    10. Arulsamy, Karen & Delaney, Liam, 2022. "The impact of automatic enrolment on the mental health gap in pension participation: Evidence from the UK," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    11. Miller, Rebecca & Blakeslee, Jennifer & Ison, Chanel, 2020. "Exploring college student identity among young people with foster care histories and mental health challenges," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    12. Mehic, Adrian & Olofsson, Charlotta, 2021. "Get Rich or Fail Your Exam Tryin': Gender, Socioeconomic Status and Spillover Effects of Blended Learning," Working Papers 2021:8, Lund University, Department of Economics, revised 16 Oct 2022.
    13. Bovornpot Choompunuch & Dussadee Lebkhao & Wanich Suksatan & Wipanee Suk-erb, 2022. "A Development of Counseling Competency for Academic Advisors in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-12, August.
    14. Irene Teo & Gayathri Devi Nadarajan & Sean Ng & Adithya Bhaskar & Sharon C. Sung & Yin Bun Cheung & Fang Ting Pan & Ali Haedar & Faith Joan Gaerlan & Sheue Fen Ong & Sattha Riyapan & Son Ngoc Do & Chi, 2022. "The Psychological Well-Being of Southeast Asian Frontline Healthcare Workers during COVID-19: A Multi-Country Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, May.
    15. Anger, Silke & Christoph, Bernhard & Galkiewicz, Agata & Margaryan, Shushanik & Peter, Frauke & Sandner, Malte & Siedler, Thomas, 2024. "War, international spillovers, and adolescents: Evidence from Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 181-193.
    16. Valerie Halstead & Jessica R Williams & Rosa Gonzalez‐Guarda, 2017. "Sexual violence in the college population: a systematic review of disclosure and campus resources and services," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(15-16), pages 2137-2153, August.
    17. Konrad T. Lisnyj & David L. Pearl & Jennifer E. McWhirter & Andrew Papadopoulos, 2021. "Exploration of Factors Affecting Post-Secondary Students’ Stress and Academic Success: Application of the Socio-Ecological Model for Health Promotion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-21, April.
    18. Clotilde Mahé & Philipp Hessel, 2022. "School-age exposure to conditional cash transfers and adult mental health: Evidence from Mexico’s Progresa," Documentos de trabajo 20155, Escuela de Gobierno - Universidad de los Andes.
    19. Mushonga, Dawnsha R. & Henneberger, Angela K., 2024. "The Black-White paradox of mental health in college students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    20. Mallory Avery & Jessica LaVoice, 2023. "The effect of “failed” community mental health centers on non‐white mortality," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(6), pages 1362-1393, June.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0288270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.