8. Discussion
This study examined the contribution of grit and sense of community
cohesion in predicting prosocial behavior. As was expected, grit predicted
prosocial behavior for older adults but not middle age adults.
Older adults with higher levels of grit engaged in more prosocial behavior
than those with lower levels of grit. This effect was not found in middle
age adults. Grit may provide a drive for older adults to overcome
obstacles and engage in generative behavior. Middle age adults may
not have as many obstacles. Additionally, as was expected, community
cohesion predicted prosocial behavior regardless of age. Sense of community
cohesion may provide a connection to the community, thereby
motivating generative behavior despite age.
8.1. Control variables
Although these variables were not a major focus of this study, the
findings merit discussion. Consistent with previous research, women
engaged in prosocial behavior more frequently than men. Women
tend to be more nurturing and are socialized to be more helpful, so it
is not surprising that women engage in these behaviors more often
(e.g. Eagly & Crowley, 1986).
Contrary to expectations, residential location (Levine et al., 2008)
and years in community were not linked to frequency of prosocial behavior,
nor was years in community linked with community cohesion
(Wilkinson, 2008). It appears likely that individual personality characteristics
and community characteristics would be better predictors of
prosocial behavior and of community cohesion rather than the sheer
amount of time in residence or a broad-based rural/urban distinction.
Age was not correlated with grit, despite previous findings indicating
that older adults tend to report higher grit (Duckworth & Quinn,
2009). It is possible that the current study and/or previous studies
were not representative of older adults, and so additional research examining
grit in older adults is clearly warranted in order to build a
more clear understanding of how grit manifests in older adults. The results
of the current study suggest that grit may be an important consideration
in older adults' well-being, despite the lack of a correlation
between age and grit. This finding merits further examination of this
link as the relation between age and grit may provide a potential avenue
for increasing well-being in later life. Clearly, further research
concerning age effects is necessary to better examine this link.