A - 92 Association of the Grit Scale with Cognitive/Emotional Symptom Endorsement in Older Former College Athletes

Abstract Objective The Grit Scale is a validated measure of trait-level perseverance, often linked with resilience, and has been associated with better cognition and psychological well-being in older adults. As the ability to respond positively to setbacks is essential for a successful athlete, investigation of the Grit Scale in former athletes may prove beneficial for further understanding the effect of resilience and its relation to brain health and psychological well-being. Method Former college athletes (N = 678, 45.9% female) aged 50–87 (m = 61.44) from the College Level Aging Athlete Study (CLEAATS) completed the Grit Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m). Pearson’s partial correlations (r) were used to determine the relationship between scores on these measures, controlling for age and education. Results Pearson partial correlations between Grit Scale scores and scores from the other measures were modest but statistically significant: PHQ-8 (r = −0.342, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (r = −0.259, p < 0.001), CFI (r = −0.316, p < 0.001), and TICS-m (r = 0.101, p = 0.008). Conclusions Comparison of the Grit Scale with PHQ-8, GAD-7, CFI, and TICS-m indicated that greater trait-level perseverance correlated with better cognitive and emotional functioning in former college athletes. Results emphasize the need to further evaluate perseverance/resilience and its value for understanding brain health and psychological well-being in athletes and former athletes.