Silver Lining: Grit and Well-Being of Working Students in a Private University

Working students represent a unique population that simultaneously manages academic responsibilities and employment while coping with financial and personal challenges. Despite increasing interest in positive psychology, limited empirical evidence has examined the relationship between grit and well-being among working students in collectivist contexts. This mixed-methods study investigated the levels of grit and well-being, examined differences according to sex, age, and general weighted average (GWA), identified the predictors of grit and well-being, and explored the lived experiences of working students in a private university. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 39 working students through the researcher-developed Triarchic Model of Grit (TMOG) and Well-being Outcomes Scale (WBOS), both of which demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .916 and .914, respectively). Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression were used for quantitative analysis, while thematic analysis was conducted on in-depth interviews with two purposively selected participants. Results revealed that working students exhibited high levels of both grit and well-being. No significant differences were found across sex, age, and GWA. Adaptability to situations significantly predicted well-being, whereas positive affect significantly predicted grit. Qualitative findings showed that financial hardship, family responsibilities, academic pressures, and personal adversities strengthened participants' perseverance, adaptability, optimism, and commitment to long-term educational goals. Family support, gratitude, and the desire to improve their family's socioeconomic condition further reinforced their persistence. The findings extend the application of the Triarchic Model of Grit within a collectivist context by demonstrating the importance of adaptability as a culturally relevant dimension of grit. The study recommends that higher education institutions implement evidence-based positive psychology and student wellness programs that cultivate grit, resilience, adaptability, and psychological well-being among working students.