The Common Factors of Grit, Hope, and Optimism Differentially Influence Suicide Resilience

Abstract

No study to date has simultaneously examined the commonalities and unique aspects of positive psychological factors and whether these factors uniquely account for a reduction in suicide risk. Using a factor analytic approach, the current study examined the relationships between grit, hope, optimism, and their unique and overlapping relationships in predicting suicide ideation. Results of principle axis factor analysis demonstrated close relationships between these variables at both the construct and item level. Item-level analyses supported a five-factor solution (Stick-to-Itiveness, Poor Future, Consistency of Interest, Positive Future, and Poor Pathways). Four of the five factors (excluding Stick-to-Itiveness) were associated with suicide ideation. Additionally, results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that two of the five factors (Consistency of Interest and Positive Future) negatively predicted suicide ideation while Poor Future positively predicted suicide ideation. Implications regarding the interrelationships between grit, hope, and optimism with suicide ideation are discussed.

Antecedents and Consequences of Grit Among Working Adults: A Transpersonal Psychology Perspective

“…Metacognition has been studied in conjunction with theory of mind, social cognition and self-regulation ( Baker et al, 2020 ) and it has also been identified important to study job-seeking behaviours and job-search outcomes, as the process of seeking and finding jobs requires metacognitive skills, implying the ability to set goals, plan, develop and strategise their job search progress and job performance ( Mikulecky and Ehlinger, 1986 ; Turban et al, 2009 ; Kanar and Bouckenooghe, 2021 ). The other transpersonal capital of optimism also positively correlates with grit, consistent with previous studies ( Steinfort, 2015 ; Clement et al, 2020 ; Loftus et al, 2020 ; Oriol et al, 2020 ; Kim and Lee, 2021 ). Optimism has also been shown to foster and predict perseverance, an essential component of grit ( Binsch et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Based on the data collected from 209 working professionals living in India, working in different parts of India, the findings of the analyses were found to be consistent with the hypothesis of the study that transpersonal capital predicts grit which, in turn, predicts job satisfaction and job performance. Grit was strongly associated with metacognition, optimism, job satisfaction and task performance, consistent with the existing body of literature (Arslan et al, 2013;Min Hee and Sook Hee, 2019;Chandrawaty and Widodo, 2020;Clement et al, 2020).…”

Model of Post-traumatic Growth in Newly Traumatized vs. Retraumatized Adolescents

“…It is also consistent with recent research demonstrating a significant effect of both hope and trauma history, as well as their interaction, on anxiety and depression in college students ( 49 ). To this end, Clement et al ( 50 ) note that optimism and a focus on goal-directed activity appear to be protective against suicide-related outcomes. It could be that developing a sense of hope and control over one's ability to effect positive change is an important lesson one can take away from past trauma.…”

Defeat, Entrapment, and Hopelessness: Clarifying Interrelationships between Suicidogenic Constructs

“…Extensive research has investigated bivariate relationships between these constructs (e.g., defeat and entrapment) [ 15 ], but none have further investigated these simple relationships utilizing psychometric procedures. Pooling items across multiple self-report scales and performing psychometric analyses has provided clarity on the conceptual overlap of interrelated psychological constructs [ 31 ]. Thus, the current investigation examines item-level similarities and differences across the BHS, DS, and ES to further inform construct validity.…”