Why are students with a higher level of grit more engaging in learning? The mediation effect of negotiable fate on the grit-student engagement relationship in higher education during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered learning and teaching approaches in higher education. Research concerning COVID-19 revealed inconsistent results on student engagement, which is a robust predictor of academic performance in higher education. This exploratory study examines the relationship between grit and student engagement in the pandemic through the mediating role of negotiable fate. Although previous research demonstrated that grit could positively predict student engagement, there have been inconsistent findings between the two sub-factors of grit: consistency of interest (grit-CI) and perseverance of effort (grit-PE). Besides, there is a lack of theoretical explanation of the mechanism between grit and engagement. The adaptation of negotiable fate seeks to provide one of the pathways of how grit would be associated with student engagement. To examine these hypotheses, the present study recruited 339 undergraduate students from two universities in Hong Kong to participate in an online survey. The results showed that grit, grit-PE, and negotiable fate positively correlate with student engagement, but the path of grit-CI did not reveal any significant results. After accounting for the mediating effect of negotiable fate, grit-PE still positively correlates with student engagement, suggesting a partial mediation model. This study provides empirical evidence that grit positively predicts student engagement with the mediation of negotiable fate. However, only grit-PE was positively associated with other variables, while grit-CI did not reveal any significant predictions. The present study (1) extends the understanding of the mechanism between grit and student engagement and (2) explores the mediating role of negotiable fate in this relationship in the higher education context. Theoretical and practical implications of this mediation model among grit, negotiable fate, and student engagement were discussed.

Nursing students' learning commitment, self-efficacy and grit during the COVID 19 pandemic: Quantitative empirical research on adaptation to college life.

AIMS: To examine the learning commitment, self-efficacy, grit and adaptation to college life among Korean nursing students, under the prolonged COVID-19 situation, and identify the factors that affect their adaptation to college life. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: The participants were 247 nursing students. The instruments used in the study were the Learning Commitment Scale for Adults, Self-Efficacy Scale, Grit Scale and Campus Life Adaptation Scale (developed for Korean nursing students). A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted using SPSS 23.0. RESULTS: Adaptation to college life had significant positive correlations with learning commitment, self-efficacy and grit. Moreover, self-efficacy and learning commitment were key correlators for adapting to college life.

Psychological capital, grit and organizational justice as positive strengths and resources among registered nurses: A path analysis.

AIM: To examine registered nurses' individual strengths (psychological capital and grit) and an organizational resource (organizational justice) as well as associated work-related outcomes. In a time of a global nursing shortage, there is an urgent need to identify strengths and resources that can have a positive impact on the health, well-being and retention of registered nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A nationwide convenience sample of 514 registered nurses responded to a survey. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire between March and May 2018. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate path analysis. RESULTS: Participants rated their psychological capital and grit moderately high. Grit and organizational justice were found to have significant direct effects on psychological capital. Furthermore, psychological capital had positive direct effects on engagement and the perception of well-conducted everyday nursing as well as negative direct effects on burnout, the stress of conscience and the intent to leave the profession. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that nurse leaders and managers could consider improving registered nurses' well-being with two complementary approaches. It might be useful to reinforce positive, individual strengths, such as psychological capital, and at the same time create more favourable nursing work environments, for example by strengthening organizational justice. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: Psychological capital and grit are emerging concepts in nursing workforce research. Identifying registered nurses' positive strengths and resources is important for inventing interventions that enhance nurses' engagement and well-being as well as reduce turnover intentions. IMPACT: Nurse leaders and managers play crucial roles in managing and developing registered nurses' individual strengths and organizational resources. This has gained even more importance now as the COVID-19 pandemic could have a long-term negative impact on nurses' well-being. REPORTING METHOD: The study is reported following STROBE guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

The merit of grit and emotions in L2 Chinese online language achievement: a case of Arabian students

The Covid-19 pandemic has provided second language (L2) learners with additional challenges regarding how to obtain an enjoyable experience while achieving a better learning attainment. Despite a growing body of studies that substantiated the predictive effect of grit, foreign language enjoyment (FLE), and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLA) on Chinese language achievement (CLA), no previous research has explored their predictive effects in online L2 Chinese learning. To address this gap, this study clarifies the nature of the complex correlation between grit, FLE, FLA, and online CLA by analyzing 169 responses from Arabic multilingual learners using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that: (i) FLE, not FLA, significantly predicts online L2 CLA;(ii) FLE acts as a positive mediator between grit and online L2 CLA;and (iii) FLE has a stronger impact in catalyzing an individual's online L2 success. This study enriches the applicability of the broaden-and-build and control-and-value theories in the field of Chinese language learning. We hope that this study will serve as a call for further attention to emotions and grit, especially for languages other than English, in order to advance the growth of positive psychology in L2 learning and teaching. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The grit of mental health professionals: Initial conceptualization and measurement

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional strain and disruption to an already strained mental health workforce. Life disruption, compassion fatigue, and traumatic stress are contributing to record levels of burnout. Efforts are needed to improve retention and the well-being of mental health providers, yet little is known about the personal traits that contribute to compassion satisfaction during difficult times. Professional grit is an emerging concept that has broad applicability and makes a potentially unique contribution to the experiences of professionals in the context of COVID-19. Our paper describes perceptions of professional grit and its association with compassion fatigue and traumatic stress. A small exploratory study was used to analyze results from an online survey of mental health workers (N = 31). Measures included compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and grit, along with open-ended questions to explore perceived contributors to grit. Results confirmed the added stress mental health professionals are working under and 29% met the cut-off for significant traumatic stress symptoms. Participants' responses were coded and a primary theme and contributor to professional grit is coping, inclusive of adaptation, self-care, perseverance, and professional and personal support. Further, participants identifying the coping skills of self-care, adaptation, and perseverance scored higher on a measure of professional grit. Our study also suggests that grit and suffering are not mutually exclusive, such that many of our participants reported components of professional grit and also reported posttraumatic stress and compassion fatigue symptoms. More extensive studies on the function of professional grit and services to improve coping skills are needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The impact of grit on the academic buoyancy of Filipino undergraduate students engaged in distance learning

Previous studies have revealed that academic buoyancy, or everyday academic resilience, have become more important amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study was conducted to ascertain if determination and passion for attaining long-term aspirations, or grit, would facilitate the academic buoyancy of Filipino undergraduate students who are engaged in distance learning. Through quota sampling, 114 Filipino college learners (57 males, 57 females) aged 18 and above were recruited to complete an online survey which included the Triarchic Model of Grit Scale (TMGS) and Academic Buoyancy Scale (ABS). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that grit had a positive impact on academic buoyancy while controlling for demographic variables. It was also identified that the grit dimension of adaptability to situations was the most significant predictor of academic buoyancy and that the demographic characteristics of the participants were not associated with their capability to cope and stay afloat on a day-to-day basis. The results provide interesting insights about the relationship between the triarchic model of grit and academic buoyancy in the collectivist setting. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Further & Higher Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The role of classroom engagement on academic grit, intolerance to uncertainty and well-being among school students during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

The forced changes and disruptions in educational systems and learning experiences due to the pandemic has impacted students' mental health and well-being. The present study aims to understand the effects of the determinants of well-being on students in India during the second wave (April to August 2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic. The determinants of well-being in this study are academic grit, intolerance to uncertainty and students' engagement in an online learning environment. In this study, well-being is characterized as students' confidence and satisfaction in an online learning and pandemic environment. The data collected from 1174 students (12-19 years) from various states, using standardized tools, were analyzed to find out about the mediating effect of students' engagement on the relationship between academic grit and well-being, and between intolerance to uncertainty and well-being. Further, the model fit analysis of the determinants of well-being is explored. The paper reports that students' classroom engagement does mediate in the path of academic grit and well-being, and in the path of intolerance to uncertainty and well-being. It also evidence the model fit of the influence of the determinants of well-being on that of school students during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also draws implications and suggestions for educators using the current model of students' well-being.

Grit & burnout in registered nurses within hospital settings

Understaffing not only limits delivery of adequate patient care, but it also may create human error that endangers the patient (Beckmann et al., 1998). Nurse staffing levels continue to impact duties and responsibilities that lead to adverse patient outcomes and job-related burnout (Aiken et al., 2002). The purpose of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between grit and burnout in registered nurses who work a minimum of 36-hours per week within hospital settings in the United States. A total sample size of 387 registered nurses were used in the study.This study provides evidence that indicates a statistically significant correlation between grit and burnout in registered nurses within hospital settings. The results of this study indicate that the variance in grit correlates to that of the perceived job-related burnout in registered nurses within hospital settings in the United States. These research study findings are consistent with grit and burnout studies that suggest a positive relationship between grit and burnout (Halliday et al., 2017) of other healthcare professionals or medical doctors.The impact of this study is directly related to grit within an understaffed healthcare environment. Grit is considered to have various positive work-related outcomes (Ion et al., 2017;Silvia et al., 2013) adding to the growing discussion of grit in relation to healthcare literature (McCabe, 2016;Stoffel & Cain, 2018). The literature related to nursing, burnout, and grit is limited. The results of the study indicate that the variance in registered nurses perceived job-related burnout (DV) can be explained by the perceived grit (IV).Keywords: registered nurses, burnout, grit, healthcare professionals, Corona Virus(COVID-19). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Relationship among grit, social support, optimism, illness-related distress and psychosocial outcomes in COVID-19 long haulers

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., COVID-19) led to the death of more than 6 million individuals globally. This viral infection manifests differently in individuals, with some experiencing mild symptoms and others experiencing severe symptoms that result in hospitalization or even death. Survivors of COVID-19 may recover in days, while others experience prolonged symptoms for weeks or months after initial illness manifestation (Navabi, 2020). These prolonged symptoms, termed "long-covid," can be continuous or relapsing and remitting and may be new or the same symptoms of acute COVID-19 (Raveendran et al., 2021). Research on chronic illness indicates that individuals with chronic health conditions experience higher rates of depression and anxiety, which are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL;Gerontoukou, 2015;National Institute of Mental Health, 2021;Obo et al., 2014). Long-covid patients also experience increased rates of depression and anxiety and decreased QoL (Frontera et al., 2021;Ismael et al., 2021;Ma et al., 2020;Mendez et al., 2021;Talman et al., 2021;Temperoni et al., 2021). However, resilience (i.e., successfully adapting to adversity;VandenBos, 2007), can protect against the harmful psychological effects of chronic illness (Manning et al., 2016). Specifically, grit, social support, and optimism are associated with better mental health outcomes in chronic illness populations (Ratajska et al., 2020;Sharkey et al., 2018;Zenger et al., 2010). Another important component of adjustment to chronic illness is cognitive appraisal of illness, which can facilitate or impede mental health outcomes in patients. Illness intrusiveness (II;i.e., disruption of lifestyles, activities, and interests) and illness uncertainty (IU;i.e., cognitive experience where illness outcomes are unpredictable and ambiguous) are both associated with poorer adjustment to chronic illness and poor mental health and QoL outcomes (Devins, 1994;Gromisch et al., 2019;Pai et al., 2006;Schiele et al., 2019;Szulczewski et al., 2017). However, research suggests that resilience variables can decrease II and IU (Carroll & Arthur, 2010;Neri et al., 2011;Sajjadi et al., 2015). The current study examined the resilience variables of grit, optimism, and social support and their effect on anxiety, depression, and QoL. Mediators of II and IU were assessed. A total of 217 long-covid patients recruited through snowball sampling were asked to complete questionnaires measuring the related constructs. It was hypothesized that resiliency would be negatively associated with poor mental health outcomes and positively associated with QoL. It was also hypothesized that II and IU would mediate these relationships. The data was analyzed using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS by Andrew Hayes. Results indicated that social support and optimism were negatively associated with anxiety and depression and positively associated with QoL. Grit was negatively associated with anxiety and depression but did not influence QoL outcomes. IU and II were negatively associated with grit, social support, and optimism. There was partial support for IU mediating the relationships between grit and anxiety and depression, social support and anxiety and depression, and optimism and anxiety. IU did not mediate the relationship between optimism and depression. II did not mediate the relationships between grit and anxiety and depression, social support and anxiety and depression, and optimism and anxiety and depression. II and IU fully mediated the relationship between grit and QoL and social support and QoL. There was partial mediation for II and IU between optimism and QoL. These results were discussed in terms of effective interventions for reducing negative outcomes in long-covid patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The perception of job insecurity and organizational citizenship behavior during COVID-19: the moderating roles of positive psychological capital and grit

Purpose: In light of COVID-19 and its subsequent disruptions, along with simultaneous changes and transformations taking place, job insecurity (JI) is significantly heightened among employees. This study aims to analyze how JI influences employees' organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) and whether positive psychological capital (PsyCap) and grit moderate this relationship. Design/methodology/approach: To test the study hypotheses, data was gathered during COVID-19 via convenience sampling. The collected data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software and Excel MegaStat. Findings: The empirical data shows that qualitative JI has a negative relationship with OCB. PsyCap and grit moderate the relationship between both JI dimensions and OCB. Practical implications: Managers can alleviate JI in the workplace by promoting PsyCap and grit among employees, both of which will sustain and promote OCB, even during difficult times. Originality/value: This study bridges the gap in the literature regarding the impact of JI on employees' OCB during the pandemic. This study also adds to the limited number of studies exploring personal resources as potential moderators between JI and organization citizenship behavior. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Resilience and grit predict fewer academic and career concerns among first-year undergraduate students during COVID-19.

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted higher education in the United States (U.S.). During the first wave of infection and hospitalization, many universities and colleges transitioned classroom instruction to online or a hybrid format. In September 2021, classes largely returned to in-person after the COVID-19 vaccine was widely available and, in some cases, mandated on university and college campuses across the U.S. In the current research, first-year undergraduate students answered a series of questions about their resilience, grit, and perceived academic and career impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Spring (February/March - May) 2021 and 2022. Findings from a series of regression analyses showed that grit and resilience seemed to protect students and help them stay on track, even in the face of the global pandemic. Undergraduate students who reported higher levels of grit and resilience were less likely to worry about job opportunities shrinking as well as less likely to report changing their academic goals, career goals, and proposed major. Future directions and implications are discussed.

Grit, academic engagement in math and science, and well-being outcomes in children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study in Hong Kong and Macau

There is evidence showing that the triarchic model of grit and its dimensions (i.e., perseverance of effort, consistency of interests, and adaptability to situations) predict engagement and well-being outcomes in high school and undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. However, there has been limited research on how this model of grit relates to engagement and optimal psychological outcomes in primary school students. This research investigates the association of grit's dimensions with academic engagement in math and science as well as well-being outcomes (i.e., positive emotions, negative emotions, and flourishing) in primary school students. Participants were primary school students (Mage = 10.42;SDage = 1.26) from Hong Kong (n = 279) and Macau (n = 124). Results showed that perseverance of effort positively predicted cognitive and behavioral engagement in math as well as positive emotions even after controlling for demographic covariates (i.e., age, gender, setting, and year level), conscientiousness, and achievement goal orientations. Adaptability to situations positively predicted cognitive and social engagement in math and flourishing. Consistency of interests negatively predicted both cognitive engagement in science and negative emotions. Indeed, this study indicates that perseverance and adaptability may facilitate children's positive academic and psychological functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of grit and its associated factors among undergraduate pharmacy students from 14 Asian and Middle Eastern countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Grit is proposed as an essential trait for academic achievement. Thus, evaluating its current status and the associated factors could aid academic support planning. Objective: The present study aimed to assess grit level and its related factors among undergraduate pharmacy students from 14 countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted among pharmacy students from 14 countries in Asia and the Middle East. A 31-item questionnaire was developed, validated, and pilot-tested, including the validated short scale for grit assessment. The data was collected between 1 February and 15 April 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed as appropriate. Results: A total of 2665 responses were received, mainly from females (68.7 %), living in urban areas (69.2 %) and studying at private universities (59.1 %). The average grit score on a scale of 5 was 3.15 ± 0.54. The responses revealed higher favourable responses to items on the perseverance of efforts (34.9 % to 54 %) compared to items on the consistency of interests (26.5 % to 31.1 %). Students who did not exercise (AOR: 0.47, 95 %CI: 0.33-0.67) or exercised irregularly (AOR: 0.64, 95 %CI: 0.45-0.90) were less likely to have higher grit scores than those who exercised regularly. Additionally, students who did not receive COVID-19 vaccination (AOR: 0.50, 95 %CI: 0.36-0.71) or received only one dose (AOR: 0.67, 95 %CI: 0.46-0.99) were less likely to have higher grit scores than those who received their booster vaccination. Interestingly, students who chose the pharmacy program as their only available or reasonable choice (AOR: 0.33, 95 %CI: 0.17-0.62) and students from public universities (AOR: 0.82, 95 %CI: 0.68-0.98) were less likely to have higher grit scores. On the other hand, students who did not face educational challenges with online learning (AOR: 1.19, 95 %CI: 1.003-1.416) and students with excellent (AOR: 2.28, 95 %CI: 1.57-3.31) and very good (AOR: 2.16, 95 %CI: 1.53-3.04) academic performance were more likely to have higher grit scores. Conclusion: The findings revealed moderate grit levels. Higher grit levels were thought to be associated with several personal, lifestyle and academic factors. Further interventions to support students' grit attributes are required, particularly concerning the consistency of interests.

Cognitive flexibility and grit during times of crisis for Turkish EFL teachers

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the abrupt transition to virtual learning environments based on Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) has posed significant challenges for teachers at all levels of education. The challenges of the pandemic revealed the significance of cognitive flexibility as a cognitive skill and grit as a noncognitive skill for teachers to adapt to the ERT conditions and to sustain their passion and perseverance. This study investigated whether the cognitive flexibility and grit levels of Turkish EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers significantly differed based on demographic variables and also explored how cognitive flexibility as a cognitive skill and grit as a noncognitive skill were associated with each other. Using a sequential, exploratory, mixed-method design, qualitative, and quantitative data were collected from 589 Turkish EFL teachers during the school closures. The collected data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, and structural equation modeling was used to determine the relationship between cognitive flexibility and grit. The findings showed that cognitive flexibility and grit differed more in terms of profession-related variables (teaching experience and school type) than personal demographic variables (age and gender). Also, structural equation modeling showed that both cognitive flexibility and grit significantly correlated with each other as a novel finding contributing to the literature. The qualitative findings showed that teachers used cognitive flexibility and grit-based strategies to overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Factors Influencing Motivation to Perform Mental and Physical Tasks During the Initial Lockdown Period of the COVID-19.

Drastic changes to lifestyles have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. An unintended consequence of stay at home orders is increased isolation and less social interaction for many people. For overall wellbeing it is important to stay both physically and mentally active; however, for many individual's motivation may be a barrier. There are non-modifiable (e.g. sex, age, personality, infection rates in the area) and modifiable factors (e.g. physical activity, diet, sleep) that may be associated with motivation to perform physical and mental tasks. We collected data from 794 subjects using an online survey between April 13th to May 3rd of 2020. Survey questionnaires included demographics, personality traits, diet, sleep, physical activity levels, mental workload and motivation to perform mental and physical tasks. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between non-modifiable and modifiable variables on motivation to perform mental and physical tasks. The results of our analyses suggest that those who reported a higher quality of diet (REAP-S score), exercised vigorously, and reduced their sedentary time, reported higher motivation to perform both mental and physical tasks. Those who were employed and had higher grit were more motivated to perform physical tasks. Lower trait physical energy was associated with greater motivation to perform mental tasks. Our findings support that during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for healthcare practitioners to emphasize the importance healthy lifestyle behaviors to prevent individuals from experiencing a lack of motivation to perform both mental and physical tasks. Future research should focus on trying to determine the directionality of the relationship between specific healthy lifestyle behaviors and motivation.

Music self-efficacy predicted by self-esteem, grit, and (in)formal learning preferences among amateur musicians who use online music tutorials

The present study explores the relationship between music self-efficacy (MSE) and self-esteem, grit, and learning and playing habits of amateur musicians who use online music tutorials (OMTs) while learning to play new pieces. Amateur musicians (N = 409) from 30 countries answered research questionnaires, including preferences of autonomy OMTs (foster independent learners and incorporate knowledge) versus dependent OMTs (based mainly on imitation and provide little further knowledge). Ordinary least squares regression indicated that the independent variables accounted for 50% of the variance in the dependent variable (MSE) and that the model was significant. The results indicated that self-esteem, grit, preferences of autonomy OMTs, playing with others and weekly hours of playing were positive predictors of MSE. In addition, dependent OMTs were negatively correlated with MSE. The findings highlight the need to examine any possible causality in the relationship between learning and playing habits, and MSE of amateur musicians. In addition, data were collected in the midst of the Covid-19 worldwide impact and should be further explored post-Covid-19. © The Author(s) 2022.

True grit and brain: Trait grit mediates the connection of DLPFC functional connectivity density to posttraumatic growth following COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in identifying factors to predict posttraumatic growth (PTG), a positive psychological response following traumatic events (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic). Grit, a psychological trait of perseverance and passion to pursue long-term goals, has emerged as a promising predictor for PTG. This study aimed to examine the functional connectivity markers of grit and the potential brain-grit mechanism in predicting PTG. METHODS: Baseline brain imaging scans and grit scale and other controlling measures were administered in 100 normal young adults before the COVID-19 pandemic, and follow-up PTG measurement was obtained during the period of community-level outbreak. Whole-brain correlation analysis and prediction analysis were used to identify the brain regions whose functional connectivity density (FCD) related to individuals' grit scores. Mediation analyses were performed to explore the mediation relation between FCD, grit and PTG. RESULTS: Grit was positively related to FCD in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a core hub implicated in self-regulation and reward-motivation processes. Furthermore, grit mediated the effect of right DLPFC FCD on COVID-related PTG. These results survived controlling for self-control and family socioeconomic status. LIMITATIONS: Our study is limited by only one-session neuroimaging data and self-reported behavioral measures in a sample of normal adults. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates grit and right DLPFC FCD as neuropsychological contributors for the development of PTG. It deepens our understanding of the neural bases of grit, and may have clinical potential to develop targeted brain interventions aimed at improving grit to raise PTG and mental health during the pandemic.

Resilience and grit predict fewer academic and career concerns among first-year undergraduate students during COVID-19

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted higher education in the United States (U.S.). During the first wave of infection and hospitalization, many universities and colleges transitioned classroom instruction to online or a hybrid format. In September 2021, classes largely returned to in-person after the COVID-19 vaccine was widely available and, in some cases, mandated on university and college campuses across the U.S. In the current research, first-year undergraduate students answered a series of questions about their resilience, grit, and perceived academic and career impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Spring (February/March - May) 2021 and 2022. Findings from a series of regression analyses showed that grit and resilience seemed to protect students and help them stay on track, even in the face of the global pandemic. Undergraduate students who reported higher levels of grit and resilience were less likely to worry about job opportunities shrinking as well as less likely to report changing their academic goals, career goals, and proposed major. Future directions and implications are discussed.

Relationship among grit, social support, optimism, illness-related distress and psychosocial outcomes in COVID-19 long haulers

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., COVID-19) led to the death of more than 6 million individuals globally. This viral infection manifests differently in individuals, with some experiencing mild symptoms and others experiencing severe symptoms that result in hospitalization or even death. Survivors of COVID-19 may recover in days, while others experience prolonged symptoms for weeks or months after initial illness manifestation (Navabi, 2020). These prolonged symptoms, termed "long-covid," can be continuous or relapsing and remitting and may be new or the same symptoms of acute COVID-19 (Raveendran et al., 2021). Research on chronic illness indicates that individuals with chronic health conditions experience higher rates of depression and anxiety, which are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL;Gerontoukou, 2015;National Institute of Mental Health, 2021;Obo et al., 2014). Long-covid patients also experience increased rates of depression and anxiety and decreased QoL (Frontera et al., 2021;Ismael et al., 2021;Ma et al., 2020;Mendez et al., 2021;Talman et al., 2021;Temperoni et al., 2021). However, resilience (i.e., successfully adapting to adversity;VandenBos, 2007), can protect against the harmful psychological effects of chronic illness (Manning et al., 2016). Specifically, grit, social support, and optimism are associated with better mental health outcomes in chronic illness populations (Ratajska et al., 2020;Sharkey et al., 2018;Zenger et al., 2010). Another important component of adjustment to chronic illness is cognitive appraisal of illness, which can facilitate or impede mental health outcomes in patients. Illness intrusiveness (II;i.e., disruption of lifestyles, activities, and interests) and illness uncertainty (IU;i.e., cognitive experience where illness outcomes are unpredictable and ambiguous) are both associated with poorer adjustment to chronic illness and poor mental health and QoL outcomes (Devins, 1994;Gromisch et al., 2019;Pai et al., 2006;Schiele et al., 2019;Szulczewski et al., 2017). However, research suggests that resilience variables can decrease II and IU (Carroll & Arthur, 2010;Neri et al., 2011;Sajjadi et al., 2015). The current study examined the resilience variables of grit, optimism, and social support and their effect on anxiety, depression, and QoL. Mediators of II and IU were assessed. A total of 217 long-covid patients recruited through snowball sampling were asked to complete questionnaires measuring the related constructs. It was hypothesized that resiliency would be negatively associated with poor mental health outcomes and positively associated with QoL. It was also hypothesized that II and IU would mediate these relationships. The data was analyzed using Model 4 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS by Andrew Hayes. Results indicated that social support and optimism were negatively associated with anxiety and depression and positively associated with QoL. Grit was negatively associated with anxiety and depression but did not influence QoL outcomes. IU and II were negatively associated with grit, social support, and optimism. There was partial support for IU mediating the relationships between grit and anxiety and depression, social support and anxiety and depression, and optimism and anxiety. IU did not mediate the relationship between optimism and depression. II did not mediate the relationships between grit and anxiety and depression, social support and anxiety and depression, and optimism and anxiety and depression. II and IU fully mediated the relationship between grit and QoL and social support and QoL. There was partial mediation for II and IU between optimism and QoL. These results were discussed in terms of effective interventions for reducing negative outcomes in long-covid patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Modeling the interplay between emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and L2 grit in higher education.

Teaching in higher education is critical and fraught with potential vicissitudes, which necessitates the presence of efficient professors armed with positive attributes to perform effectively. Although it is generally accepted that emotion regulation (ER) has numerous benefits for language teachers, in particular university professors, little is known about how it interacts with two other important constructs, i.e., self-efficacy and L2 grit. Furthermore, the effect of ER on L2 teacher grit has not been sufficiently investigated. To fill this gap, the current study was to test a structural model of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) university professors' ER, self-efficacy, and L2 grit. The participants were 356 Iranian EFL university professors who completed the Language Teacher Emotion Regulation Inventory (LTERI), the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES), and the L2-Teacher Grit Scale (L2TGS). The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that ER and self-efficacy were strong predictors of L2 grit. Moreover, the significant role of self-efficacy on ER was discovered. The implications of this study may foster effective teaching in higher education, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on education.