Grit Competency, Growth Mindset, and Mental Ability among Filipino High School Students

Educators and mental health professionals have promoted social and emotional learning (SEL) as the foundation for safe and positive education. SEL factors such as grit competency and growth mindset were the critical factors in this research, along with the student’s mental ability level. Grit competency pertains to one’s ability to work hard, overcome setbacks, finish tasks, and set long-term goals. At the same time, a growth mindset refers to believing intelligence and ability can change with persistence and practice and believing interests and behaviors can positively change with effort and learning. This research aimed to determine the grit and growth mindset levels of 137 all-female Filipino senior students from Quezon City and test their relationship with mental ability. A standardized test measured grit competency and growth mindset, while the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, 7th Edition (OLSAT-7), measured cognitive ability. Results signified a low and negative relationship between grit competency and mental ability, with r = -.152 and p = 0.039 < 0.05. Similarly, there was a low and negative relationship between a growth mindset and cognitive ability with a value of r = -.157 and p = 0.034 < 0.05. Keywords: Grit Competency; Growth Mindset; Mental Ability; High School Students.