The Mediating Role of Grit in the Relationship among Health Behaviors, Internet Addiction, Emotional Intelligence, and Academic Burnout in Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental stage marked by significant emotional, psychological, and academic changes. Academic burnout has become increasingly common in this age group due to academic pressure, lifestyle changes, and excessive digital media use. While health behaviors, internet addiction, and emotional intelligence are recognized as important psychosocial determinants of academic adjustment, the underlying mechanisms of their impact on academic burnout remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of grit a trait representing perseverance and passion for long-term goals in the relationship between academic burnout and these psychosocial predictors in adolescents.

Method: This cross-sectional study employed a convenience sampling technique to recruit 281 adolescents (149 boys and 132 girls), aged 14 to 18 years (M = 17.09, SD = 1.26), from public and private colleges in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Participants completed validated self-report measures assessing academic burnout, emotional intelligence, grit, internet addiction, and health behaviors. Correlation and mediation analyses were used to explore direct and indirect associations among variables.

Results: Academic burnout showed a significant positive correlation with internet addiction and emotional intelligence, and a significant negative correlation with grit and health behaviors. Mediation analyses revealed that grit significantly mediated the relationship between internet addiction and academic burnout, suggesting that higher grit levels weaken the negative impact of internet addiction. Similarly, grit partially mediated the effects of emotional intelligence and health behaviors on academic burnout, indicating that adolescents with stronger grit reported lower burnout despite high digital engagement or moderate emotional competencies.

Conclusions: Findings support the role of grit as a protective psychological factor, emphasizing its potential in school-based interventions aimed at reducing academic burnout and enhancing adolescent resilience.