The significance of grit from social support and health determinants

Whitney Key; Jang Ho Park; Philip Young P Hong

doi:10.1921/swssr.v20i1.1121

Authors

Whitney Key Loyola University Chicago
Jang Ho Park Loyola University Chicago
Philip Young P Hong Loyola University Chicago

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr.v20i1.1121

Abstract

Non-cognitive skills are known to be influenced by the environment, especially regarding health and social support. One emerging non-cognitive skill is grit that can be defined as a success measure among low-income adults. It has been studied mostly among school-age children as it relates to academic success however little attention has paid to grit in workforce development. This is important to recognize as two identifiers for workforce success are social support and health. This paper aims to investigate the effects of health and social support on grit. Regression analysis was completed on 520 low-income, job seeking adults. A series of multiple regression results indicate that social support and health—physical, emotional, and general—have statistically significant independently and combined effects on grit. This finding is important for workforce development practitioners to understand when working with job seeking clients who are having difficulty in demonstrating the necessary tenacity to continue the path to achieve employment goals.

Author Biographies

Whitney Key, Loyola University Chicago

Doctoral Student, School of Social Work

Jang Ho Park, Loyola University Chicago

Doctoral Candidate, School of Social Work

Philip Young P Hong, Loyola University Chicago

Lucian and Carol Welch Matusak endowed professor, Associate Dean for Research, and Director, Center for Research on Self-Sufficiency, School of Social Work

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