Curvilinear relationship between grit and performance decline in university student athletes

Abstract

This study examined a curvilinear relationship between grit and performance in Japanese university student athletes, in two parts. In Study 1, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 205 university student athletes. Multiple regression analysis was carried out, and the results revealed an inverse U-shaped curvilinear relationship between perseverance of effort and decline in performance. In Study 2, a longitudinal survey was conducted on 99 university student athletes who also participated in Study 1. Multiple regression analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between grit and decline in performance; however, considering the confidence intervals and effect size, there was a U-shaped curvilinear relationship between consistency of interest and decline in performance. These results suggest that there is an inverse, U-shaped curvilinear relationship between perseverance of effort and performance decline cross-sectionally, although further research is needed to clarify the longitudinal relationship between consistency of interest and performance decline.