Grit as the Moderator of the Relationship between Anxiety and Mental Health
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Authors
Miyashiro, Angela
Issue Date
2025-11
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Grit , Mental Health , College Athletes , Moderating affect
Alternative Title
Abstract
Abstract College athletes face ongoing mental and physical stress. Although grit may play a role in supporting psychological well-being, athletic pressure can exacerbate anxiety and adversely affect overall mental health. This research aimed to provide further information about the role of grit as a moderating factor between anxiety and mental health in the context of sports. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of grit as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety and mental health in sports. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive correlational study was to explore grit as a moderator of the anxiety-mental health link, which is a logical, explicit research response to the increased need to support athletes who experience elevated levels of anxiety and pressure in sports competition. The study examined potential gender differences in athletics under Title IX, using Duckworth et al.'s (2007) definition of grit, which includes passion, perseverance, and resilience. The theoretical frame for this study was the social cognitive theory by Bandura (2007). Recruited for the study were college athletes from a university in Hawaii (N = 70). An online survey was conducted using Qualtrics. Multiple regression analysis assessed the extent to which grit moderated the relationship between anxiety (independent variable) and mental health (dependent variable). Descriptive statistics included predictors such as race, gender, academic year, and type of sport. The results indicated that the data were insufficient to demonstrate grit’s moderating effect on the anxiety-mental health link as well as the relationship to gender. However, a significant main effect was found, showing that athletes with higher anxiety had lower mental health scores. The author recommends prioritizing clinical mental health services over character-building programs, acknowledging grit’s value for performance but not as a substitute for professional support. Larger, more diverse studies are encouraged that would consider identity, mindset, social support, and stress. Though no gender differences or moderating effects were found, grit remains relevant for future research on athlete mental health. The findings provide data for health and sports psychologists to further study grit as a potential protective factor in the relationship between anxiety and mental health among college athletes, supporting investigation into the role grit may play in athletes' mental health. Abstract College athletes face ongoing mental and physical stress. Although grit may play a role in supporting psychological well-being, athletic pressure can exacerbate anxiety and adversely affect overall mental health. This research aimed to provide further information about the role of grit as a moderating factor between anxiety and mental health in the context of sports. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of grit as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety and mental health in sports. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive correlational study was to explore grit as a moderator of the anxiety-mental health link, which is a logical, explicit research response to the increased need to support athletes who experience elevated levels of anxiety and pressure in sports competition. The study examined potential gender differences in athletics under Title IX, using Duckworth et al.'s (2007) definition of grit, which includes passion, perseverance, and resilience. The theoretical frame for this study was the social cognitive theory by Bandura (2007). Recruited for the study were college athletes from a university in Hawaii (N = 70). An online survey was conducted using Qualtrics. Multiple regression analysis assessed the extent to which grit moderated the relationship between anxiety (independent variable) and mental health (dependent variable). Descriptive statistics included predictors such as race, gender, academic year, and type of sport. The results indicated that the data were insufficient to demonstrate grit’s moderating effect on the anxiety-me