The Mediating Effects of Grit on the Relationship Between General Self-Efficacy and Happiness Among Unemployment Benefit Recipients

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of grit—defined as persistence of interest and effort-on the relationship between general self-efficacy and happiness among 206 recipients of unemployment benefits. Methods: The participants were selected from the population of unemployment benefit recipients using convenience sampling. To examine the mediating effects, structural equation modeling was utilized. The analysis showed that the goodness-of-fit indices for the measurement model satisfied the criteria (CFI: .968, TLI: .960, RMSEA: .045), and all factor loadings were statistically significant. Moreover, the goodness-of-fit indices for the structural model, which posited that general self-efficacy and happiness are mediated by the sub-factors girt, specificially consistency fo interest and perseverance of effort, also met the required standards (CFI: .967, TLI: .959, RMSEA: .046). Results: The key findings are as follows. First, the mediating effect of consistency of interest in the relationship between general self-efficacy and happiness was positively significant, suggesting that general self-efficacy contributes to happiness by enhancing consistency of interest. Second, the mediating effect of persistence of effort in the relationship between general self-efficacy and happiness was also positively significant, indicating that general self-efficacy promotes happiness through persistence of effort. Conclusions: These findings suggest that improving the sub-factors of grit-consistency of interest and persistence of effort-could enhance happiness for those with low general self-efficacy among unemployment benefit recipients. Therefore, there is a need for educational programs that address the connections between general self-efficacy, grit, and happiness for this population.