A cross-sectional study of academic success measures, grit, and resilience among US dental students

This study explored themes previously identified as central to holistic professional school success, as related to traditional academic achievement, resilience, and grit measures.

This cross-sectional study surveyed third- and fourth-year US dental students. Items addressed themes previously identified as central to professional school success, including need for cognition, patient ownership, collective orientation, grit, and resilience. Traditional academic metrics were also included. Statistical analyses comprised one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), simple linear regression, and stepwise multiple regression procedures.

A total of 126 students participated (81% response rate). Collective orientation, need for cognition, patient ownership, and resilience did not significantly correlate with grade point average (GPA), whereas grit did, r = 0.29. Need for cognition and patient ownership combined significantly predicted grit with approximately 35% of variance explained. Approximately 25% of variance in resilience scores was accounted for by need for cognition, coupled with collective orientation. Grit and resilience significantly correlated, r = 0.59.

Grit significantly predicted both traditional and alternative metrics of success among dental students, particularly need for cognition and patient ownership. A high need for cognition is consistent among students who display both grit and resilience. Neither resilience nor the alternative measures of success predicted traditional academic metrics.