Grit as a predictor of depression, anxiety and stress among university students: a structural equation modeling

Objective: The aim of the study is to test whether grit has a significant effect on the predictions of depression, anxiety and stress among university students. For this purpose, depression, anxiety and stress are considered together with grit, which is thought to have an important place in the well-being, social life and academic achievement of the individual. Methods: In September-October 2017, 313 university students enrolling in different departments of two different universities were recruited. In the scope of the research, Personal Information Form (PIF), Short Grit Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale were used to collect data by the researchers for the participants. For the analysis of the data, frequency, percentage, correlation analysis and path analysis were used through SPSS 22 and AMOS programs. Findings: As a result of path analysis, it was found that there is a negative correlation between grit and psychological symptoms which is the sum of depression, anxiety and stress scores. Correlation analysis revealed that there was a negative and significant relationship between participants' grit scores and depression, anxiety and stress scores. It was also found that in the structural equation model, 19% of the change in psychological symptoms was explained by the grit. Results: The study concludes that the model for depression, anxiety and stress is confirmed and the results of the research are consistent with the literature. In this context, it can be benefited from efforts to strengthen grit in the prevention of psychological symptoms.