Grit in Undergraduate Medical Education: A Scoping Review

Grit, passion, and perseverance for long-term goals have attracted growing attention in medical education, yet no comprehensive synthesis exists for undergraduate medical students. This scoping review mapped how grit is conceptualized, measured, and associated with academic outcomes. Searches across five databases yielded 31 studies (2013-2025; N = 7,110). The cumulative figure of 7,110 represents unique participants pooled across all 31 included studies. Studies were predominantly cross-sectional and U.S.-based (n = 18). The 12-item Grit Scale was most widely used. Female students reported higher grit than males. Grit positively correlated with conscientiousness, resilience, and well-being, and negatively with burnout. Grit predicted clerkship honors and timely graduation, though the associations with GPA and standardized exams were inconsistent. Formal interventions remain scarce.