The Structural Model of the Mediating Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship Between Grit and Lifelong Learning in Middle-Aged Adults

Authors

    Saeid Falah Tafti * Department of Psychology, Qom. Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran fallahtaftisaeid9@gmail.com
    Abdolvahid Davoodi Department of psychology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran
    Ramin Tabarraei Department of psychology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

Keywords:

Grit, Mindfulness, Lifelong Learning, Middle-Aged Adults

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between grit and lifelong learning among middle-aged adults. The research method was descriptive, and the design was correlational using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all middle-aged employees working in the Islamshahr district of Tehran, among whom 527 individuals were selected through random sampling. Participants completed the Grit Scale, the Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Lifelong Learning Scale. The reliability and validity of the instruments were confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed through the structural equation modeling method using AMOS software. The results showed that the direct effect of grit on mindfulness and lifelong learning in middle-aged adults was positive and significant. Mindfulness also had a positive and significant direct effect on lifelong learning. Furthermore, mindfulness played a positive and significant mediating role in the effect of self-balance on lifelong learning among middle-aged adults. Therefore, it can be concluded that grit, through the mediation of mindfulness, influences lifelong learning and contributes to the improvement of lifelong learning among middle-aged adults.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. World Development R. Lifelong Learning. 2018.

2. Arslan N, Demirbağ M, Dilmen H. Lifelong learning and adult education: A literature review. International Journal of Educational Research Review. 2024;9(2):119-22. doi: 10.24331/ijere.1429074.

3. Bashir T, Akhouri D, Afroj S, Khan KA, Hamza H. Lifelong learning: Demographic trends and economic participation in older adults Perspectives on the Economics of Aging2025. 21-48 p.

4. Wenzel KC, Van Puymbroeck M, Lewis S, McGuire F, Vidotto J. Characteristics and cognition of older adults engaged in lifelong learning. Educational Gerontology. 2024;50(5):423-42. doi: 10.1080/03601277.2023.2299647.

5. García-Toledano E, Gracia-Zomeño A, Farinho P, Picado LMCM. Analyzing Teachers' Perception of the Development of Lifelong Learning as Personal, Social and Learning to Learn Competence in University Students. Education Sciences. 2023;13(11):1086. doi: 10.3390/educsci13111086.

6. Kirby JR, Knapper C, Lamon P, Egnatoff WJ. Development of a scale to measure lifelong learning. International Journal of Lifelong Education. 2010;29(3):291-302. doi: 10.1080/02601371003700584.

7. Fang Z, Sim N. Does lifelong learning matter for the subjective wellbeing of the elderly? A machine learning analysis on Singapore data. PLOS ONE. 2024;19(6):e0303478. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303478.

8. Şentürk C, Baş G. Investigating the relationship between teachers' teaching beliefs and their affinity for lifelong learning: The mediating role of change tendencies. International Review of Education. 2021;67(5):659-86. doi: 10.1007/s11159-021-09917-7.

9. Erbe R, Fredrick R, Konheim-Kalkstein YL, Matthews MD, Strauchler O, Wetzler E. The Role of Grit in Achievement and Resilience: A Comprehensive Review The Routledge International Handbook of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Character Development, Volume II2024. 30-55 p.

10. Daniel C, Chowdhury RM, Gentina E. Mindfulness, spiritual well-being, and sustainable consumer behavior. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2024;455:142293. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142293.

11. Duckworth AL, Peterson C, Matthews M, Kelly D. Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2007;92(6):1087-101. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087.

12. Martin H, Craigwell R, Ramjarrie K. Grit, motivational belief, self-regulated learning (SRL), and academic achievement of civil engineering students. European Journal of Engineering Education. 2022;47(4):535-57. doi: 10.1080/03043797.2021.2021861.

13. Baer RA, Smith GT, Hopkins J, Krietemeyer J, Toney L. Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment. 2006;13(1):27-45. doi: 10.1177/1073191105283504.

14. Keng SL, Smoski MJ, Robins CJ. Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies. Clinical Psychology Review. 2011;31(6):1041-56. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2011.04.006.

15. Duckworth A, Gross JJ. Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of success. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 2014;23(5):319-25. doi: 10.1177/0963721414541462.

16. Fowler R. The Effect of Grit and Mindset on Professional Pilot Student Persistence: Middle Tennessee State University; 2025.

17. Eskreis-Winkler L, Shulman EP, Duckworth AL. Survivor mission: Do those who survive have a drive to thrive at work? The Journal of Positive Psychology. 2014;9(3):209-18. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2014.888579.

18. Reed J, Pritschet BL, Cutton DM. Grit, conscientiousness, and the transtheoretical model of change for exercise behavior. Journal of Health Psychology. 2013;18(5):612-9. doi: 10.1177/1359105312451866.

19. Forster K, Shaw C. Mindfulness for enhancing learning in Engineering Education Towards a new future in engineering education, new scenarios that European alliances of tech universities open up2022. 275-87 p.

20. Fernández Martín FD, Arco Tirado JL, Hervás Torres M. Grit as a predictor and outcome of educational, professional, and personal success: A systematic review. [No Journal Name Provided]. 2020. doi: 10.5093/psed2020a11.

21. Schimschal SE, Visentin D, Kornhaber R, Cleary M. Achieving long-term goals amidst uncertainty: an integrative model for the psychological resources of grit. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing. 2022;53(8):355-63. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20220706-06.

22. Hwang MH, Nam JK. Enhancing grit: Possibility and intervention strategies Multidisciplinary perspectives on grit: Contemporary theories, assessments, applications, and critiques2021. 77-93 p.

23. Rhodes E, Giovannetti T. Grit and successful aging in older adults. Aging & Mental Health. 2022;26(6):1253-60. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1919990.

24. Germer CK. Mindfulness: What is it? What does it matter? 2013.

25. Langer EJ, Ngnoumen CT. Mindfulness Positive Psychology2017. 95-111 p.

26. Schuman-Olivier Z, Trombka M, Lovas DA, Brewer JA, Vago DR, Gawande R, et al. Mindfulness and behavior change. Harvard Review of Psychiatry. 2020;28(6):371-94. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000277.

27. Fu Y, Song Y, Li Y, Sanchez-Vidana DI, Zhang JJ, Lau WKW, et al. The effect of mindfulness meditation on depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports. 2024;14(1):20189. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71213-9.

28. Cheung RY, Djekou L. Self-compassion and grit mediated the relation between mindfulness and mind wandering based on cross-sectional survey data. Scientific Reports. 2024;14(1):9090. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-58395-y.

29. Corti L, Gelati C. Mindfulness and coaching to improve learning abilities in university students: A pilot study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(6):1935. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17061935.

30. Issac AC, Dhir A, Christofi M. True knowledge vs empowering knowledge: conceptualizing a theory of mindfulness and knowledge transfer (TMKT). Journal of Managerial Psychology. 2024;39(3):264-86. doi: 10.1108/JMP-05-2022-0217.

31. Thera N. The power of mindfulness: Fivestar; 2024.

32. He J, Iskhar S, Yang Y, Aisuluu M. Exploring the relationship between teacher growth mindset, grit, mindfulness, and EFL teachers' well-being. Frontiers in Psychology. 2023;14:1241335. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1241335.

33. Feng L, Papi M. Persistence in language learning: The role of grit and future self-guides. Learning and Individual Differences. 2020;81:101904. doi: 10.1016/j.lindif.2020.101904.

34. Lee CS, Jang HY. The roles of growth mindset and grit in relation to hope and self-directed learning. Journal of the Korea Convergence Society. 2018;9(1):95-102.

35. Zhao FF. The association of loneliness, mindfulness, and optimism with self-directed learning among nursing students in China: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Professional Nursing. 2022;38:65-73. doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.11.009.

36. Ahmadvand Z, Heydarinasab L, Shaiari M. Explaining Psychological Well-Being Based on Mindfulness Components. Health Psychology. 2012;1(2):60-9.

37. Higgins ET. Self-discrepancy theory: what patterns of self beliefs cause people to suffer. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. 1989;22:93-136. doi: 10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60306-8.

38. Watson N, Bryan BC, Thrash TM. Self-discrepancy: Comparisons of the psychometric properties of three instruments. Psychological Assessment. 2010;22(4):878. doi: 10.1037/a0020644.

39. Duckworth AL, Kirby TA, Tsukayama E, Bernstein H, Ericsson KA. Deliberate practice spells success: Why grittier competitors triumph at the National Spelling Bee. Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2011;2(2):174-81. doi: 10.1177/1948550610385872.

40. Zhao X. Exploring the Role of Mindfulness Meditation in Facilitating English Learning and Optimizing Classroom Teaching. Journal of Psychology and Behavior Studies. 2024;4(1):81-7. doi: 10.32996/jpbs.2024.1.9.

41. Zhao H, Zhang Z, Heng S. Grit and college students' learning engagement: Serial mediating effects of mastery goal orientation and cognitive flexibility. Current Psychology. 2024;43(8):7437-50. doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04904-7.

42. Crick RD. Learning to learn: A complex systems perspective Learning to Learn2014. 66-86 p.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-01

Submitted

2025-03-09

Revised

2025-08-13

Accepted

2025-08-21

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Falah Tafti, S., Davoodi, A., & Tabarraei, R. (2026). The Structural Model of the Mediating Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship Between Grit and Lifelong Learning in Middle-Aged Adults. Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal, 1-13. https://mhljournal.com/index.php/mhlj/article/view/129

Similar Articles

31-38 of 38

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.