The influence of nursing students’ motivation for major selection on adaptation to college life: The mediating effect of grit

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of grit on the relationship between motivation for major selection and adaptation to college life in nursing students. Methods: Structured questionnaires were used to measure the motivation for major selection, grit, and adaptation to college life. The study was conducted on 172 nursing students at a university in G city between July 1 and July 10, 2024. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS/WIN 23.0. The differences in variables according to general characteristics were analyzed using independent t-test and one-way ANOVA, with post hoc analysis conducted using the Scheffé test. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationships between variables, and the mediating effect was verified using SPSS Process macro (4.3 version) model 4 and bootstrap methods.Results: Significant relationships were found between intrinsic motivation for major selection and grit (β=.32, p<.001), as well as between intrinsic motivation and college life adaptation (β=.27, p<.001). Additionally, grit partially mediated the relationship between intrinsic motivation for major selection and college life adaptation, with an indirect effect size of 0.10 (95% confidence interval, 0.05~0.16). Higher levels of intrinsic motivation were associated with increased grit, which in turn enhanced college life adaptation. These findings highlight the importance of intrinsic motivation as a key factor influencing grit and its role in promoting better adaptation to college life. Conclusion: These results indicate that interventions to enhance intrinsic motivation along with fostering grit are necessary to improve college life adaptation among nursing students.