For many individuals, grit – the perseverance and fervour for long-term objectives – is a advantage. It’s also a key ingredient in overcoming challenges, reaching success and sustaining resilience.
Research have linked grit with success in purpose attainment, improved psychological well-being and elevated life satisfaction.
However regardless of standard narratives equating one of these psychological persistence with well-being, mind analysis is starting to point out that mustering grit within the face of adversity may have some surprising detrimental results – significantly for communities which might be already below continual stress.
As a behavioral scientist learning Alzheimer’s illness and mind well being in Black communities, I exploit strategies equivalent to mind exercise monitoring to look at threat elements and early indicators of cognitive decline. My analysis together with different work is starting to uncover that pushing by means of can create a degree of stress that really taxes mind well being.
The paradox of grit, lively coping and mind well being
Grit has change into a central thought in psychology. Researchers have primarily centered on its optimistic options, describing it as a high quality that helps folks work exhausting, keep sturdy throughout powerful occasions and preserve attempting even when issues are troublesome. Lively coping is an analogous idea outlined as addressing issues immediately and actively looking for options. Research have linked it to decrease stress, higher well being and feeling extra in management.
Traits equivalent to grit and lively coping are methods used to handle stress, and they’re historically seen as protecting elements for well-being.
However perseverance may include dangers that may contribute to poor mind well being outcomes. Contemplate the idea of John Henryism, developed by an epidemiologist named Sherman James within the Nineteen Seventies.
John Henryism is a coping technique characterised by persistent, high-effort striving in response to continual stressors, significantly amongst marginalized teams. It’s named after the legendary African American people hero John Henry, who labored himself to loss of life in a contest towards a steam-powered drill. Within the people story, John Henry exemplifies how folks might have interaction in extended, high-effort coping, usually on the expense of their well being. James used the folklore to represent the relentless effort to beat structural and systemic obstacles.
For instance, think about somebody of their early 40s who works two bodily demanding jobs to help their household and stop homelessness. They imagine relentless effort is the one path to stability, regardless of experiencing continual fatigue and ache. Over time, this sustained pressure might result in hypertension, stroke and despair – all of which have been linked to cognitive decline.
This statue of John Henry stands in Talcott, W.Va., above the Huge Bend Tunnel on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Many individuals imagine the occasions described within the folktale passed off right here.
Ken Thomas through Wikimedia Commons
John Henryism has been linked to detrimental well being outcomes, together with elevated dangers of hypertension, heart problems and early mortality. It has additionally been linked to the chance of poor mind well being.
Perseverance and the chance of cognitive impairment
My colleagues’ and my current work helps the concept that high-effort coping equivalent to grit can contribute to neurocognitive put on and tear. Being continually below stress can basically overwork sure components of the mind. This harm can construct as much as make it tougher for the mind to study new issues, keep in mind info and keep sharp as an individual will get older.
In our research revealed in January 2025, we requested 158 Black males residing within the U.S. to take part in a web-based survey. The survey measured grit by asking how a lot contributors agreed with statements like “I finish whatever I begin.” It additionally requested contributors to report how usually they skilled episodes of reminiscence loss and confusion and to rank whether or not these episodes have been changing into extra frequent.
We discovered that males with larger ranges of grit reported larger cognitive difficulties equivalent to bother concentrating, forgetfulness and feeling mentally fatigued, regardless of their sturdy motivation to persevere. Whereas our research couldn’t decide whether or not grit causes these difficulties, it raises necessary questions on whether or not sustained, high-effort coping would possibly come at a cognitive value over time.
An idea known as allostatic load gives one attainable rationalization for the hyperlink between perseverance and the cognitive decline we noticed in our research. Allostatic load is the wear and tear and tear on the physique that builds up over time resulting from coping with stress.
I imagine people who push by means of adversity towards all odds might expertise allostatic load extra acutely. Their persistent coping might intensify physiological pressure over time, contributing to earlier onset of cognitive decline. This rationalization aligns with earlier work, which has proven that extended publicity to emphasize can speed up cognitive decline and negatively have an effect on reminiscence and govt operate.
Going through frequent stressors equivalent to racism, discrimination, financial challenges and restricted entry to well being care with intense ranges of perseverance might encourage folks to push by means of these challenges with out satisfactory restoration. That may trigger continual stress that damages mind well being.
Repeatedly exerting psychological and emotional effort with out reduction may lead to cognitive overload and diminish folks’s means to maintain psychological resilience. This burden accelerates mind ageing and will increase the chance of cognitive decline.
Not like the occasional stress of assembly a deadline or finishing a troublesome venture, one of these overexertion is extra like waking up every single day already exhausted, but pushing by means of a number of jobs, monetary worries and household obligations with little relaxation or help. Over time, this fixed psychological pressure might put on down the mind’s means to get well and keep readability, even when the individual seems outwardly resilient.
Rethinking perseverance
Researchers are starting to construct a extra nuanced understanding of perseverance that challenges the traditional knowledge that it’s at all times helpful. This angle additionally redefines the notion of energy within the face of adversity.
On this extra real looking definition, perseverance can embody self-care and relaxation. Figuring out when to take a break or prioritize self-care is a sensible technique for sustaining cognitive well being within the face of challenges.
Additionally, practices equivalent to meditation, deep respiratory and guided leisure may help regulate stress responses and scale back cognitive pressure. And past private resilience, leaning on social help and significant connections could be simply as essential for long-term mind well being.
