This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: "People who are determined, passionate and believe in their ability to improve appear more likely to flourish and experience meaningful, engaging lives," says Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson at NTNU's Department of Psychology. Together with Professor Håvard Lorås at the Department of Teacher Education, Sigmundsson investigated the personality traits of tenacity ('grit'), believing in oneself ('growth mindset') and motivation ('passion'), and how they are associated with quality of life and well-being.
The paper is published in the journal Frontiers in Education. A total of 585 people completed a survey. The results show that grit, growth mindset and passion are interconnected.
These motivational factors were all associated with a sense of direction, leading to meaningful, flourishing lives. "Grit and passion were particularly strongly associated with well-being, while a growth mindset had a distinct association with flourishing," says Lorås. Overall, personal motivation was strongly associated with general well-being.
It is important to note that this study looked at people's perceived quality of life and well-being. The results do not necessarily reflect the participants' objective circumstances. "Our study cannot establish that motivation directly leads to a better quality of life.
We only studied these people at one point in time and did not examine how they developed over time," says Sigmundsson. The sample was also predominantly Norwegian and included considerably more women than men (363 compared with 222). Both cultural and gender differences could therefore play a role.
"We need longer-term and experimental studies to determine whether these traits actually lead to a better quality of life," Lorås concludes. Hermundur Sigmundsson et al, Motivation and well-being: exploring the relationships, Frontiers in Education (2026). DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2026.1891860 Provided by Norwegian University of Science and Technology Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
