Growth Mindset, Grit, and the Development of Character among School Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54437/attadbir.v4i1.3943Abstract
The development of pupils’ character encompasses the ability to cope with failure, maintain perseverance, regulate behaviour, and achieve meaningful goals. In this context, a growth mindset and grit are two relevant concepts to examine. This study aims to analyse the contribution of these two concepts to the character development of pupils and to identify the relationship between them. The study employs a systematic literature review method, examining 24 studies, comprising 20 studies from two pre-defined literature collections and four additional studies that have been internationally verified. The data were analysed using a narrative-comparative synthesis, taking into account the diversity of populations, research designs, measurements and study outcomes. The findings indicate that a growth mindset is associated with engagement, interest in learning, perseverance, readiness to face challenges and adaptive responses to failure. Meanwhile, grit is associated with sustained effort, self-regulation, academic self-efficacy, engagement and perseverance in the face of difficulties. A number of studies also indicate a positive relationship between these two concepts, although evidence from international meta-analyses suggests that their average effect on performance tends to be moderate and context-dependent. This review contributes to the development of a conceptual understanding of character development in pupils by emphasising that perseverance and belief in one’s developable abilities need to be supported by effective strategies, self-regulation, a conducive environment, and flexibility in evaluating and adjusting goals.
Downloads
References
Abuk, D., Nurhasanah, Y. H., Nahak, M. C., & Manek, Y. N. (2026). The Influence of Interest and Grit on Indonesian Primary Students’ English Language Performance. JEES: Journal of Education and Educational Sciences, 2(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.70152/jees.v2i2.45
Agustina, E. V., & Hapsari, M. T. B. (2025). The influence of self-compassion on flourishing with growth mindset as a moderator variable in Sleman Regency collage students. Jurnal Psikologi Tabularasa, 20(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.26905/jpt.v20i1.15442
Baidarus, & Fithri, R. (2025). Implementation of Growth Mindset in Islamic Education and Its Impact on Character Development of Students at MTs. Muhammadiyah Pekanbaru. POTENSIA: Jurnal Kependidikan Islam, 11(1), 75.
Burman, N. J., & Johnson, C. L. (2025). Growth Mindset: Embracing Our Challenges to Help Us Continue to Improve Toward Mastery. Academic Pediatrics, 25(8), 102876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2025.102876
Credé, M., Tynan, M. C., & Harms, P. D. (2017). Much ado about grit: A meta-analytic synthesis of the grit literature. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(3), 492–511. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000102
Darmawan, D., Irsyadul’Ibad, A., & Arrisallah, A. (2025). Pengaruh Pola Asuh Orang Tua dan Lingkungan Sekolah Terhadap Akhlak Siswa Smp Sederajat. Didaktik : Jurnal Ilmiah PGSD STKIP Subang, 11(04), 214–237. https://doi.org/10.36989/didaktik.v11i04.11771
Dewi, N. R., & Istiarsyah, I. (2026). The Influence of Flipped Classroom on Student Engagement Considering Growth Mindset in Secondary Schools in Indonesia. The Eastasouth Journal of Learning and Educations, 4(01), 58–68. https://doi.org/10.58812/esle.v4i01.951
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087
Firmansyah, M. I., & Rindaningsih, I. (2025). Implementation of Student Management in Forming Student Character: Implementasi Manajemen Kesiswaan Dalam Membentuk Karakter Siswa. UMSIDA Preprints Server. https://doi.org/10.21070/ups.8603
Hasibuan, M. R. F., & Maipita, I. (2026). The Influence of Self-Confidence and Growth Mindset on Students’ Interest in Learning Economics: A Study of Grade XI Social Science Students at Senior High School. Journal of English Language and Education, 11(4), 607–617. https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i4.2652
Hecht, C. A., Yeager, D. S., Dweck, C. S., & Murphy, M. C. (2021). Beliefs, Affordances, and Adolescent Development: Lessons from a Decade of Growth Mindset Interventions. Advances in child development and behavior, 61, 169–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.acdb.2021.04.004
Lawal, B. M. (2023). Structural equation model of academic mindset, motivation, perseverance, engagement and secondary school students’ performance in economics in south-west, Nigeria. Journal of Social and Educational Research, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10444314
Manda, D., Darmayanti, D. P., & Junaeda, S. (2025). The Role of Parenting Style on Aggressive Behavior of Junior High School Adolescents. Celebes Journal of Elementary Education, 3(1), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.31605/cjee.v3i1.5181
Miko, A. G. (2026). Navigating Students’ Growth Mindset and Connectivist Learning Experience With Dynamic Technologies. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-10613564/v1
Muflihah, L., Lumenta, H., & Ulfawaty, U. (2023). The Importance of Characters Education for Students in Teaching Learning Process. EDUKASI, 21(2), 493–497. https://doi.org/10.33387/j.edu.v21i2.6514
Mutaharrikah, H., & Wahidah, F. (2023). School well-being, school climate, and growth mindset: Regression analysis on elementary school students. Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences, 4(4), 185–194.
Muttaqin, S. K., Ibrahim, C. F., Azizah, M. N., & Hasbulloh, M. F. (2025). The Effects of Teacher Modeling and Peers on Religious Behavior among Secondary School Students. Maharot : Journal of Islamic Education, 9(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.28944/maharot.v9i2.2273
Nafisa, N. N. I., & Darmawan, D. (2025). Pengaruh Kompetensi Kepribadian Guru Terhadap Pembentukan Karakter Setingkat Sekolah Menengaah Atas. Karakter : Jurnal Riset Ilmu Pendidikan Islam, 2(2), 307–321. https://doi.org/10.61132/karakter.v2i2.616
Purwati, P., Japar, M., Pratama, R. A., Nikmah, F. K., Sari, D. L., Gumintang, B., & Sari, I. N. (2026). Understanding the link between grit and academic anxiety: The mediating roles of growth mindset, academic resilience, and academic well-being. BIS Humanities and Social Science, 4, V426032–V426032. https://doi.org/10.31603/bishss.468
Quing, K. (2021). Roles of Internal Locus of Control and Grit in Managing the Academic Stress of Senior High School Students in a State University in the Philippines.
Risqi, A. S., & Darmawan, D. (2024). Pengaruh Perhatian Orang Tua dan Budaya Sekolah Terhadap Pembentukan Karakter Santri di Pondok Pesantren Nurul Ikhlas Sidoarjo. Ambarsa : Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 4(2), 151–161. https://doi.org/10.59106/abs.v4i2.231
Shi, J. (2025). Exploring the Impact of Growth Mindset Theory on Student Motivation and Academic Achievement: A Review of Recent Literature. Journal of Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies, 3(6), 9702–9702. https://doi.org/10.61173/k4a6gv31
Sisk, V. F., Burgoyne, A. P., Sun, J., Butler, J. L., & Macnamara, B. N. (2018). To What Extent and Under Which Circumstances Are Growth Mind-Sets Important to Academic Achievement? Two Meta-Analyses. Psychological Science, 29(4), 549–571. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617739704
Soeparwati, S., Ahmad, Z. A., Sumarni, S., & Istiningsih, I. (2025). The Grit Character Education Model Based on Islamic Values for Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Students: A Systematic Literature Review. Khazanah Pendidikan Islam, 7(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.15575/kpi.v7i1.40255
Solfema, Wahid, S., & Pamungkas, A. H. (2019). The Development of Character through Extra-Curricular Programs. 918–926. https://doi.org/10.2991/icesshum-19.2019.143
Syaiful, A., Amiruddin, Hafid, & Fitriyah, F. (2025). Habituation and Internalization of Islamic Education Values in Character Building: A Phenomenological Study at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Nasy’atul Muta’allimin Candi Sumenep. Jurnal Ilmiah Gema Perencana, 4(2), 1449–1470. https://doi.org/10.61860/jigp.v4i2.324
Taylan, S., & Özkan, İ. (2025). Examining the Relationship Between Grit, Passion, and Professional Attitudes in Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 39(3), e70079. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.70079
Toyama, M. (2024). Is grit persistence adaptive? Goal pursuit behavior when faced with a difficult goal. Personality and Individual Differences, 223, 112610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112610
Wahidah, A. (2024). Strategi Kiai dalam Peningkatan Kualitas Pendidikan di Madrasah untuk Menghadapi Tantangan Globalisasi. At Tadbir: Islamic Education Management Journal, 2(2), 78–86. https://doi.org/10.54437/attadbir.v2i2.1666
Wahidah, F. R. N., & Royanto, L. R. (2021). Growth Mindset Leads Grittier Students. Sains Humanika, 13(2–3).
Widyatno, A., Rosita, A., & Wahyu, A. M. (2023). Self-control and grit: Study on investors in the capital market. Psychology Research on Education and Social Sciences, 4(1), 1–6.
Winandari, N. Z. P., & Naqiyah, N. (2022). The Influence of The Family Environment and Grit on Student’s Academic Self-Efficacy. Bisma The Journal of Counseling, 6(2), 228–237. https://doi.org/10.23887/bisma.v6i2.47862
Woenardi, T. N. (2024). Coaching Management: Tough Student Character. IJFMR - International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i05.28334
Wulandari, F., & Sudrajat. (2025). The Influence of Teachers’ Pedagogical Competence on the Implementation of Differentiated Instruction at Muhammadiyah Senior High School Imogiri. JIPSINDO, 12(2), 140–159. https://doi.org/10.21831/jipsindo.v12i2.87960
Yeager, D. S., Hanselman, P., Walton, G. M., Murray, J. S., Crosnoe, R., Muller, C., Tipton, E., Schneider, B., Hulleman, C. S., Hinojosa, C. P., Paunesku, D., Romero, C., Flint, K., Roberts, A., Trott, J., Iachan, R., Buontempo, J., Yang, S. M., Carvalho, C. M., … Dweck, C. S. (2019a). A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement. Nature, 573(7774), 364–369. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1466-y
Yusuf, M. Z., & Darmawan, D. (2026). Pengaruh Budaya Sekolah Terhadap Pembentukan Karakter Siswa SMA. Jurnal Al-Fatih, 9(1), 490–514. https://doi.org/10.61082/alfatih.v9i1.739
Zulfa, I., & Mulyono, R. (2025). The Influence of Grit and Self-Regulated Learning on English Academic Achievement with Family Support as a Moderating Variable. Pasundan Social Science Development, 5(2), 132–148. https://doi.org/10.56457/pascidev.v5i2.194
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Aminatuzzuriyah Aminatuzzuriyah, Didit Darmawan, Rahayu Mardikaningsih
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
