The Interplay of Grit, Psychological Well-being, and Wisdom: A Comparative Study on Mountaineers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v24i1-2.868Keywords:
grit; psychological well-being; wisdom; resilience; mountaineersAbstract
Positive psychology claims that traits such as grit, well‑being, and wisdom help sustain resilience in the face of adversity. Although each trait has been studied in isolation, their interconnections are not well understood, especially among those facing high physical and psychological stress.
Methods: In a cross-sectional design, two distinct samples: active mountaineers and non‑mountaineers were used. The mountaineer group comprised 150 participants (90 males, 60 females) aged 21–55 years (M = 34.8, SD = 6.7) and the comparison group consisted of 200 non‑mountaineers (112 males, 88 females) aged 20–56 years (M = 33.2, SD = 7.1) completed the 12-item Grit Scale, the 42-item Psychological Well-being Scales, and the 39-item Wisdom Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions.
Results: Mountaineers consistently scored higher than non-mountaineers on grit, psychological well-being, and wisdom. Correlation and regression results further suggest that grit and wisdom contribute uniquely to psychological well-being, especially among mountaineers, where wisdom strengthens the link between grit and well-being.
Conclusions: The analysis reveals grit fosters well‑being, and together they enhance wisdom—an essential component of adaptive functioning. Interventions that cultivate grit and psychological well‑being may therefore accelerate the development of wisdom and resilience in high‑stress contexts. These results extend integrative models of positive psychology and inform evidence‑based mental-health strategies.
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