The ecological benefits of staying gritty: grit dimensions are associated with pro-environmental passion, awareness, and behaviours

Abstract

Objectives: Prior studies have demonstrated the educational and mental health benefits of grit — disposition to show passion and perseverance for long term goals — in different societies. However, there is limited research on how grit's dimensions relate to pro-environmental outcomes. This study aims to explore the associations of grit's dimensions (i.e., perseverance of effort and consistency of interests) with environmental passion, environmentally friendly behaviors, and environmental awareness via a cross-sectional design. Method: A sample of 700 Filipino undergraduate students completed a self-reported survey on grit, environmental awareness, environmental passion, and pro-environmental behaviors. Structural equation modeling via maximum likelihood estimation was used to examine the hypothesized links among grit and pro-environmental outcomes. Results: Both dimensions of grit were associated with all pro-environmental outcomes. Whereas consistency was more strongly linked to environmental passion, perseverance was more strongly related to environmentally friendly behaviors as well as environmental awareness. Conclusions: Results point to the ecological benefits of espousing passion and perseverance for long-term goals. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Prior research shows that grit predicts academic success and well-being outcomes. (2) Studies also demonstrated that perseverance had more robust associations with optimal performance and psychological outcomes. (3) There is evidence showing how grit relates to self-regulation. What this topic adds: (1) This study demonstrated that both perseverance of effort and consistency of interests positively predicted environmental passion, environmentally friendly behaviors, and environmental awareness. (2) Whereas consistency appears to be more strongly linked to environmental passion, perseverance was more strongly related to environmentally friendly behaviors as well as environmental awareness. (3) These findings offered preliminary evidence regarding the ecological benefits of grit.