Are Grit Scale Scores or Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale Scores Correlated with Career Achievements Among Physical Therapy Program Graduates?

Aims: This study examined how the qualities of grit and resilience correlated with career achievements in physical therapists. The purpose of this study was to determine if select career achievements were correlated with 1) Original Grit Scale (Grit-O) scores, 2) Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) scores, or 3) Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) scores among Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences Physical Therapy Program graduates from 2000-2018.

Methods: Cross-sectional research design. Participants were 212 graduates between 2000 and 2018, inclusive. Participants completed the Grit-O, Grit-S, and CD-RISC scales and reported career achievements. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographics, career achievements, grit, and resilience of the subjects. Point biserial and partial correlations were used to examine associations between Grit-O and Grit-S subscales, CD-RISC scores, and career achievements.

Results: When controlled for gender and time since graduation, there were significant positive relationships between Grit-O Perseverance of Effort and 1) publication in a peer-reviewed journal and 2) attainment of an additional degree. Biological males were significantly more likely to have reported certain career achievements.

Conclusion: Few of the expected relationships were found, possibly due to a lack of true relationships, a homogeneous population, ceiling effect, or inaccurate self-reports.