In this national sample of Japanese resident physicians, higher grit was consistently associated with improved psychological well-being, including lower burnout, reduced stress, fewer depressive symptoms, and increased job satisfaction. These findings suggest that grit is a critical protective trait for residents, even within a collectivist culture. Future research should explore whether the identification of residents with lower grit, especially those with reduced perseverance or inconsistent interests, can help inform customized support programs such as mentoring or structured stress management to enhance well-being.
Nishizawa et al. (2026) studied this question.