THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GRIT IN PERFECTIONISM, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG KOREAN YOUTH

This study examines the mediating role of grit in the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), socially-prescribed perfectionism (SPP), and the mental health outcomes of depression and anxiety.A cross-sectional survey of 747 Korean young adults aged 19-34 years was conducted.Mediation analyses were performed to test the direct and indirect effects of perfectionism dimensions on depression and anxiety through grit.For depression, SPP showed significant direct effects ( = 0.22, p < .001)and indirect effects mediated by grit ( = 0.06, p < .001),accounting for 20.8% of the total effect.SOP showed a significant negative indirect effect through grit ( = -0.03,p < .001),while its direct effect was not significant ( = 0.01, p = .944).The overall effect was significant ( = -0.04,p = .014),suggesting that the overall effect of SOP on depression is primarily driven by its indirect negative pathway through reduced grit, highlighting grit as a key protective mechanism linking SOP to reduced depressive symptoms.For anxiety, SPP again showed significant direct effects ( = 0.24, p < .001)and indirect effects mediated by grit ( = 0.05, p < .001),with 16.2% of the total effect mediated.SOP had a negative indirect effect through grit ( = -0.03,p < .001)and a small positive direct effect ( = 0.01, p = .53),resulting in a non-significant overall effect ( = -0.02,p = .11).These results highlight the distinct roles of SOP and SPP in mental health.SOP primarily influences depression and anxiety through its indirect effects via grit, with increased grit contributing to lower psychological distress.Conversely, SPP directly increases vulnerability to depression and anxiety while decreasing grit, further exacerbating these mental health problems.The findings underscore the importance of addressing grit in interventions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of SPP and promoting resilience among young adults with perfectionistic tendencies.