Grit Dimensions, Obsessive–Compulsive Symptomatology, and Psychological Distress: A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Two Directional Mediation Models

Background: Mental health research has been increasingly oriented toward understanding how protective factors buffer psychological distress and support emotional stability, but the mechanisms underlying goal-oriented behavior remain less studied. One of those mechanisms is Grit, defined as a concept with two dimensions: Consistency of Interest (CI) and Perseverance of Effort (PE). Although these factors may share behavioral components with obsessive–compulsive (OC) symptomatology, the specific statistical contribution of OC symptoms to the association of Grit with psychological distress has not been modeled. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted with 333 undergraduate students from a Mexican University. Participants completed a battery of validated Spanish-language instruments: Grit-O (CI and PE subscales), OCI-R, and DASS-21 (depression, anxiety, and stress subscales). Results: Overall, Grit-O subscales were negatively associated with both OCI-R and DASS-21 subscales, while OCI-R and DASS-21 subscale scores were positively correlated. Six forward mediation models were estimated, examining the indirect effects of CI and PE on depression, anxiety, and stress through OC symptoms. All direct effects of CI and PE on the DASS-21 subscales were statistically significant, with the exception of the CI to depression and PE to anxiety paths. All indirect effects of CI and PE on the DASS-21 subscales through OC symptoms were statistically significant. Six reverse directional sensitivity models revealed statistically significant effects for all direct paths except anxiety to PE and depression to CI. All indirect effects were statistically significant except for the indirect effects of depression and anxiety on PE through OC symptoms. Conclusions: These results indicate that CI and PE are negatively associated with OC symptoms and psychological distress in both the forward and reverse directional models. Path models suggest that PE and CI may have direct negative associations with anxiety and depression, respectively, while OC symptoms may partially mediate the associations between PE and anxiety and between PE and depression.