Self-efficacy mediates the relationship between grit and life satisfaction in a sample of employed university students resident in the United Arab Emirates

Balancing academic and professional responsibilities presents unique psychological challenges for employed university students. Most existing literature on this student population has adopted a deficits-approach. However, identifying the strengths inherent in such individuals could offer valuable avenues for informing strategies to reduce their risk of psychological distress. This study examined whether self-efficacy impacts the relationship between grit and life satisfaction among employed university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was employed with data collected from 242 employed university students residing in the UAE. Participants completed a self-report survey that comprised of measurements of grit, self-efficacy and life satisfaction. Grit was significantly and positively associated with both life satisfaction and self-efficacy. Additionally, self-efficacy was found to significantly mediate the relationship between grit and life satisfaction in this sample of participants. This study identified grit as a potential factor that could be harnessed to improve life satisfaction, through the mediating role of self-efficacy. These findings hold important implications for informing strategies to promote positive mental health outcomes among employed university students who possess the strength of grit.