The Effect of Parental Autonomy Support on Grit: The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs and the Moderating Role of Achievement Motivation

Wenbo Du,1 Zhihua Li,2 Yanan Xu,1 Chaoyang Chen1 1Department and Institute of Psychology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, 315211, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Education, Hunan University of Science & Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, 411201, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chaoyang Chen, Department and Institute of Psychology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China, Email ccy6409@sina.comPurpose: Grit plays a critical role in the academic achievement and future career success of college students. The family environment has an important influence on the development of individual grit, but the mechanisms linking family and grit are not well known. To further understand these relationships, this study sought to explore the mediating role of basic psychological needs between parental autonomy support and grit, and the moderating role of achievement motivation.Methods: The present study model was developed according to the proposed hypotheses and was analyzed using structural equation modeling. A total of 984 college students in Hunan Province, China participated in the present study. The following tools were used: Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale, Basic Psychological Needs Scales, Short Grit Scale, and Achievement Motivation Scale.Results: Parental autonomy support was positively correlated with basic psychological needs and grit, and both basic psychological needs and achievement motivation were positively correlated with grit. Basic psychological needs mediated the effect of parental autonomy support on grit. Achievement motivation moderated the second half of the path of the mediation model.Conclusion: Parental autonomy support influences perseverance through the mediation of basic psychological needs, and achievement motivation plays a moderating role. Findings of this study reveal the influence of family environment on grit, and give reference to the development of grit.Keywords: parental autonomy support, grit, basic psychological needs, achievement motivation, family environment