Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Original Article

Does Dispositional Mindfulness Predict the Development of Grit?

Published Online:April 04, 2018https://doi.org/10.1027/1614-0001/a000252

Abstract

Abstract. Grit, that is, perseverance and passion for long-term goals, is a novel construct that has gained attention in recent years (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews, & Kelly, 2007). To date, little research has been performed with the goal of identifying the antecedents of grit. Thus, in order to fill this gap in the literature, self-report data were collected to examine whether mindfulness, a mindset of being-in-the-present in a nonjudgmental way, plays a role in fostering grittiness. Three hundred and forty-three undergraduate students completed an online survey once in a cross-sectional study, and of these, 74 students completed the survey again 4.5 months later. Although the cross-sectional analyses identified a number of positive associations between mindfulness and grit, the longitudinal analysis revealed that the mindfulness facets of acting with awareness and non-judging were the most important positive predictors of grit 4.5 months later. This set of findings offers implications for future grit interventions.

References

  • Arbuckle, J. L. (2006). Amos (Version 7.0) [Computer program]. Chicago, IL: SPSS. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Baddeley, A. D. & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. The Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 8, 47–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-7421(08)60452-1 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J. & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13, 27–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Baer, R. A, Smith, G. T., Lykins, E., Button, D., Krietemeyer, J., Sauer, S., … Williams, J. M. G. (2008). Construct validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in meditating and nonmeditating samples. Assessment, 15, 329–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191107313003 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bandura, A. (1986). The explanatory and predictive scope of self-efficacy theory. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 4, 359–373. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.1986.4.3.359 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Baumeister, R. F., Heatherton, T. F. & Tice, D. M. (1994). Losing control: How and why people fail at self-regulation. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Bohlmeijer, E., ten Klooster, P. M., Fledderus, M., Veehof, M. & Baer, R. (2011). Psychometric properties of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in depressed adults and development of a short form. Assessment, 18, 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191111408231 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Canby, N. K., Cameron, I. M., Calhoun, A. T. & Buchanan, G. M. (2015). A brief mindfulness intervention for healthy college students and its effects on psychological distress, self-control, meta-mood, and subjective vitality. Mindfulness, 6, 1071–1081. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0356-5 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Cash, M. & Whittingham, K. (2010). What facets of mindfulness contribute to psychological well-being and depressive, anxious, and stress-related symptomatology? Mindfulness, 1, 177–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-010-0023-4 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. & Hagger, M. S. (2007). Mindfulness and the intention-behavior relationship within the Theory of Planned Behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35, 663–676. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167206297401 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Cohen, J. (1992). Statistical power analysis. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 1, 98–101. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20182143 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Credé, M., Tynan, M. C. & Harms, P. D. (2017). Much ado about grit: A meta-analytic synthesis of the grit literature. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113, 492–511. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000102 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Curry, L. A., Snyder, C. R., Cook, D. L., Ruby, B. C. & Rehm, M. (1997). Role of hope in academic and sport achievement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 1257–1267. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.6.1257 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Custers, R. & Aarts, H. (2005). Positive affect as implicit motivator: On the nonconscious operation of behavioral goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 129–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.89.2.129 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • de Bruin, E. I., Topper, M., Muskens, J. G. A. M., Bogels, S. M. & Kamphuis, J. H. (2012). Psychometric properties of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in a meditating and a non-meditating sample. Assessment, 19, 187–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191112446654 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Denissen, J. J., Zarrett, N. R. & Eccles, J. S. (2007). I like to do it, I’m able, and I know I am: Longitudinal couplings between domain‐specific achievement, self‐concept, and interest. Child Development, 78, 430–447. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01007.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Desrosiers, A., Klemanski, D. H. & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2013). Mapping mindfulness facets dimensions of anxiety and depression. Behaviour Therapy, 44, 373–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2013.02.001 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, C. I. & Dweck, C. S. (1978). An analysis of learned helplessness: Continuous changes in performance, strategy, and achievement cognitions following failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 451–461. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.36.5.451 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. New York, NY: Scribner. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D. & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 1087–1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Dweck, C. S. & Leggett, E. L. (1988). A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality. Psychological Review, 95, 256–273. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.95.2.256 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Elliott, E. S. & Dweck, C. S. (1988). Goals: An approach to motivation and achievement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.1.5 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Eskreis-Winkler, L., Shulman, E. P., Beal, S. A. & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). The grit effect: Predicting retention in the military, the workplace, school and marriage. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00036 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Evans, D. R., Baer, R. A. & Segerstrom, S. C. (2009). The effects of mindfulness and self-consciousness on persistence. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 379–382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2009.03.026 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Forster, S. & Lavie, N. (2009). Harnessing the wandering mind: The role of perceptual load. Cognition, 111, 345–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2009.02.006 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Friese, M., Messner, C. & Schaffner, Y. (2012). Mindfulness meditation counteracts self-control depletion. Consciousness and Cognition, 21, 1016–1022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2012.01.008 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hollis-Walker, L. & Colosimo, K. (2011). Mindfulness, self-compassion, and happiness in non-meditators: A theoretical and empirical examination. Personality and Individual Differences, 50, 222–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2010.09.033 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jose, P. E. (2013). Doing statistical mediation and moderation. New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). “Wherever you go”. There you are: Mindfulness meditation of everyday life. London, UK: Piatkus Book. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Linnenbrink, E. A. & Pintrich, P. R. (2010). Achievement goal theory and affect: An asymmetrical bidirectional model. Educational Psychologist, 37, 69–78. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15326985EP3702_2 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Little, T. D. (2013). Longitudinal structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Maree, D. J. F., Maree, M. & Collins, C. (2014). The relationships between hope and goal achievement. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 18, 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2008.10820172 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Mason, J. M. (2014). Measuring mindfulness: A revision of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and a look at its impact on depression and flow. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Neff, K. D., Hsieh, Y. P. & Dejitterat, K. (2005). Self-compassion, achievement goals, and coping with academic failure. Self and Identity, 4, 263–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576500444000317 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Piña-Watson, B., López, B., Ojeda, L. & Rodriguez, K. M. (2015). Cultural and cognitive predictors of academic motivation among Mexican American adolescents: Caution against discounting the impact of cultural processes. Journal of Multicultural Counselling and Development, 43, 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1912.2015.00068.x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Raphiphatthana, B., Jose, P. E. & Kielpikowski, M. (2015). How do the facets of mindfulness predict the constructs of depression and anxiety as seen through the lens of the tripartite theory? Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 93, 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.08.005 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sears, S. & Kraus, S. (2009). I think therefore I Om: Cognitive distortions and coping style as mediators for the effects of mindfulness meditation on anxiety, positive and negative affect, and hope. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 561–573. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp. 20543 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Shapiro, S. L., Brown, K. W., Thoresen, C. & Plante, T. G. (2011). The moderation of mindfulness-based stress reduction effects by trait mindfulness: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67, 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20761 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Snyder, C. R., Harris, C., Anderson, J. R., Holleran, S. A., Irving, L. M., Sigmon, S. T., … Harney, P. (1991). The will and the ways: Development and validation of an individual differences measure of hope. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 570–585. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.60.4.570 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Snyder, C. R., Rand, K. L. & Sigmon, D. R. (2002). Hope theory. In C. R. SnyderS. J. LopezEds., Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 256–262). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Vansteenkiste, M., Lens, W. & Deci, E. L. (2010). Intrinsic versus extrinsic goal contents in self-determination theory: Another look at the quality of academic motivation. Educational Psychologist, 41, 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep4101_4 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Weinstein, N., Brown, K. W. & Ryan, R. M. (2009). A multi-method examination of the effects of mindfulness on stress attribution, coping, and emotional well-being. Journal of Research in Personality, 43, 374–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2008.12.008 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Yeager, D. S. & Dweck, C. S. (2012). Mindsets that promote resilience: When students believe that personal characteristics can be developed. Educational Psychologist, 47, 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2012.722805 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar