Luke Hardy
This study explored the potential impact of current competitive sport status (CCSS) and past participation in organised youth sport (PPOYS) on adult athletes' grit. 95 participants were recruited for the study. The participants answered two demographic questions in relation to their CCSS and PPOYS. They then completed the Short Grit Scale. The results were analysed using a 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). No significant differences in adult athletes' grit were detected in relation to the two independent variables of CCSS and PPOYS. Implications for research on grit emerged from the present study, with further replication of such research studies recommended.
Does an adult athlete's current competitive sport status (CCSS) and past participation in organised youth sport (PPOYS) influence the individual's grit?
This study aimed to address gaps in past research - where combat sports had often been grouped with other individual sports, where youth sport participation had been measured inconsistently, and where grit has been frequently studied using restrictive samples. A further objective of the present study was to test if early, structured, involvement in sport interacted with CCSS, to impact grit in adulthood. By employing a validated short grit scale and a 4 X 2 between-groups design, the present study aimed to provide clearer evidence regarding specific CCSS or PPOYS contributions with regard to adult grit development. The study also aimed to question the theoretical assumption that grit develops through sport experience and exposure, and to determine if these assumptions remain evident for more diverse samples of adult athletes.
The present study's outcomes showcased that neither current competitive sport status (CCSS) nor past participation in organised youth sport (PPOYS) significantly influenced adult athletes' grit. The 2-way ANOVA revealed no main, or interaction, effect for CCSS or PPOYS, showcasing that grit levels remain relatively stable regardless of the sport type engaged in or early sport participation. The results of this study challenge assumptions reported in past literature, suggesting that structured sport environments meaningfully shape grit development. This study contributed new insights by including combat sport participation as a distinct and separate sport type grouping. Separating such sport participants out from other individual sport athletes did not indicate a measurable difference in their grit when compared to the other athlete types. Furthermore, the present study highlighted the potential stability of grit in adulthood and suggests that broader life experiences may play a more significant role, than sport-specific experiences do, in shaping grit development. The outcomes of the present study further identified methodological considerations that future researchers should address, such as the uneven group sizes, reliance on self-report measures, and a more generalizable population. It is suggested that these factors be taken into consideration in the future in order to potentially determine, more effectively, the levels of grit across different sport populations.
This thesis investigated if sport status and involvement in sport, both in adulthood and during childhood, shapes the individual's adult grit. Grit is considered to impact perseverance and passion for achieving long-term goals. Grit has been widely researched in education, health, and performance settings. Despite this, research on sport status and sport participation impacts have produced mixed results. The study focused on 2 key themes: (i) the role of CCSS (Team, Individual Non-Combat, Individual Combat, No Competitive Sport) and (ii) the effect of consistent PPOYS, on adult grit. The research question for this study reflected these two variables' potential impact on adult athletes' grit. Using the Short Grit Scale and a two-way ANOVA, with 95 participants, the present study uncovered no significant grit differences across 4 sport type groupings nor past participation in youth sport groups (Yes or No). The study also indicated no interaction effect, suggesting that early sport experiences and adult sport status do not combine to shape adult grit. These findings challenge past assumptions that structured sport environments help to develop grit. Instead, it may be that grit is relatively stable in adulthood, or is shaped by broader life experiences, not specific sport experiences. The study's findings highlight the need for future research using larger samples, longitudinal designs, and additional variables to better understand how grit develops across the lifespan.
I am a final year student at the Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT), pursuing a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Psychology. I have a strong interest in Sport and Performance, Organisational, and Behavioural Psychology. I aim to pursue a career in the field of Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, as I have a passionate interest in this field and believe it is a growing profession, with many possibilities. Throughout my four years of study at IADT, I enhanced my skillset in research methods and statistics. I also gained valuable experience at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (through the Altruism module). This opportunity helped me to understand the value of motivation and the use of sport activities in such settings.
