# The Evolving Role of Grit: Shifts in Depression Risk Among High- and Low-Grit Individuals During COVID-19

## TL;DR

This study shows that during the pandemic, the usual link between low grit and higher depression risk disappeared, suggesting that crises can change how personality traits affect mental health.

## Contribution

The study reveals how the protective role of grit in depression risk changed during the pandemic, highlighting the impact of public health crises on resilience factors.

## Key findings

- Before the pandemic, low-grit individuals had significantly higher depressive symptoms than high-grit individuals.
- During the pandemic, the difference in depressive symptoms between high- and low-grit individuals disappeared.
- The pandemic's restrictions may have altered how grit influences mental health outcomes.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study examined the relationship between grit—a measure of perseverance and diligence—and depressive symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. While low levels of grit have typically been associated with increased vulnerability to mental health challenges, the pandemic introduced elements that may have altered this relationship. Methods: Using data from 5039 participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 97, one-way MANCOVAs were conducted to compare depressive symptoms across low-, moderate-, and high-grit individuals before and during the pandemic. Results: The findings show that in pre-pandemic periods, low-grit individuals displayed a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms than their moderate- and high-grit counterparts. However, during the pandemic, this differential risk diminished, with higher-grit groups showing depressive symptoms comparable to those of lower-grit groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that public health crises entailing limited public mobility and social distancing may alter the traditional protective role of grit, prompting further investigation into how resilience factors interact with external stressors during times of widespread adversity.