Multiple Roles of Grit in the Relationship Between Interpersonal Stress and Psychological Security of College Freshmen

Abstract

Grit, as an important positive psychological quality, has rarely been studied for its role involved in the mechanism between stress and psychological security. This article explores the moderating and mediating role of grit in the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological security of freshmen through two studies. In study 1, freshmen from several Chinese universities (N = 1,224) were recruited to complete a battery of questionnaire, including assessments about interpersonal stress, grit, and psychological security. The moderating effect analysis showed that grit moderated the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological security. Specifically, grit buffered the negative effects of interpersonal stress on freshmen's psychological security, but this effect was obvious only when the level of interpersonal stress was relatively low, and decreased when the level of interpersonal stress was high. In study 2, college freshmen from another university apart from above ones (N = 604) were recruited, and we verified the results of study 1 and further explored the mediating role of grit in the relationship between interpersonal stress and security. The moderating effect analysis of study 2 also verified that of study 1. The mediating effect analysis showed that interpersonal stress not only negatively predicted psychological security, but also affected psychological security through the mediation of grit. In general, grit played a mediating and moderating role in the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological security. This study provides first-hand evidence to explain the multiple roles of grit in the relationship between interpersonal stress and psychological security.

Keywords: college freshmen; grit; interpersonal stress; multiple roles; psychological security.

Figure 1

The moderating role of grit on the relationship between Interpersonal stress and Psychological security in Study 1. All the study variables were standardized. High/low level of Interpersonal stress = M ± 1SD. High/low level of grit = M ± 1SD.

Figure 2

The moderating role of grit on the relationship between Interpersonal stress and Psychological security in Study 2. All the study variables were standardized. High/low level of Interpersonal stress = M ± 1SD. High/low level of grit = M ± 1SD.

Figure 3

Mediation model of interpersonal stress as a predictor of psychological security mediated by grit. Standardized regression coefficients are displayed for all paths. ^***p < 0.001.