Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Strong expectations exist for the selectivity of migration along key demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and education, which are often linked to social and economic drivers. Scholars acknowledge, however, that migratory behavior is also likely to be selective on characteristics that are less readily observable. This research note expands the list by examining "grit"-in other words, a measure of perseverance in the face of adversity. We test for a relationship between South African rural-urban migration, net of other standard covariates, and an established composite psychosocial measure of grit. We draw on two waves of survey data originating from a demographic surveillance platform but with respondents followed irrespective of their subsequent geographic mobility. Simple bivariate regressions suggest that grit is strongly associated with migration. Using multivariate models, we continue to detect a statistically significant association of migration with grit in the presence of controls. When the model is further refined to stratify by sex and separate geographic destinations, a sex differential emerges, with grit being more predictive for females. We conclude by suggesting that such findings should encourage broader inquiries that consider grit and other psychological characteristics, particularly investigations that might help further illuminate differentials by the experience of gender.
Source: Demography
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,750
Funders: Brown University, Wellcome Trust, Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Strengthening and stabilising a demographic and health surveillance in Agincourt: foundation for a health and population research programme in South Africa's rural northeast, G3202112669, Health, population and social transitions in rural Southern Africa: Elucidating pathways and testing interventions., Preventing cardiometabolic diseases in Africa: life-course and multi-sector approaches., G4061508305, G4469057728, G4570411886, Investigating and responding to health, population and social transitions in rural Southern Africa., G6123573120, G7299740096, G757859257, G775404406, G8186070293, G8276714428, G8464664866, G9000070251, G9000139016
OpenAlex ID: W4402862776