Stress and Well-being among Aspirants of Competitive Examinations: The Mediating Role of Grit

Abstract

The present study aims to identify how grit mediates the relationship between stress and well-being among aspirants of competitive examinations. The study employed a quantitative correlational design. A convenient sampling method was used, and 300 aspirants preparing for NEET, JEE, and Civil Services, age-ranging between 18-35 years, were selected as participants for this study. In the present study, Life Stress Scale developed by Kumar (2002) was used to measure the level of stress. The Well-being Index developed and standardized by Chauhan and Sharma (2016) was used to examine the participants’ level of well-being, while the Short Grit Scale developed by Duckworth and Quinn (2009) was used to identify their level of grit. Correlational analysis revealed that a significant negative relationship exists between stress and well-being (r = -.597, p<0.01) and stress and grit (r = -.330, p<0.01) a significant positive relationship exists between grit and well-being (r = .338, p<0.01). Mediation Regression Analysis showed that grit partially mediates the relationship between stress and well-being. The study attempts to understand the correlation between stress and well-being, as well as the role grit plays between them in high-pressure academic environments and emphasizes the need for institutional support to mitigate its effects.