Grittier and more hopeful about the future? A nine-month school-based longitudinal study on grit and adolescent possible selves

Abstract

The changes in adolescents’ visions for the future are important to adolescents’ developmental trajectories, motivation, and educational outcomes, yet understudied. This study examined the change in possible selves and its association with grit during school closure and life interruption during COVID-19. We conducted a school-based longitudinal survey among 1577 students (Mage = 13.05, SD = 0.86) from 12 secondary schools at the start and end of an academic year prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic with a 9-month interval. Demographic, grit, socioeconomic status (SES), self-control, and possible selves were measured. Paired t-tests indicated a significant decrease in academic possible selves and strategies. Hierarchical regression analysis results show that participants with higher grit scores reported higher academic and life possible selves; in particular, the effect of grit–perseverance was stronger than grit–passion after controlling self-control. SES moderated the effect of grit–passion on academic possible selves. The current longitudinal study provides important implications for education and youth social work practice for young people growing up with the influence of the pandemic.