Influence of Grit on Physical Activity, Sitting Time and Dietary Behaviors: A Multi-Study Analysis
, Michael Toczko 1, Emily Locke 2, Ryan McCarthy 2,3, Italia Milani 3, Nathalie Barrios 3, Samer Koutoubi 4, Jatin Ambegaonkar 1, Niyati Dhokai 5 and Ali Boolani 6,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In the current manuscript, the author summarized the relationship of grit with PA, sitting time, and dietary behaviors in several populations that included US adults, active duty military, veterans, college students, and performing artists and found that grit had a positive influence on PA, sitting time and dietary behaviors across the 30 unique populations. However, there are still some concerns inside the manuscript.
1. Study 1, 3 and 4 all collected the data from COVID-19 pandemic time, as the author mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic and its physical distancing policies may impact participants in manners not accounted for in the studies. Is there really grit during the pandemic time instead of the pressure under the environment and policies?
2. Line 173, in table 1.1, “non-smokers : smokers – 9.1% : 90.9%”.
3. In Line 361, the author cited the highest (3.6 ± 0.6) from active duty military, however, the artist also had a high grit (3.6 ± 0.7), how to explain this part?
Author Response
Manuscript ID.: sustainability-2107222
Title: Influence of grit on physical activity, sitting time and dietary behaviors: a multi-study
December 17, 2022
Sustainability Editorial Board,
We are pleased our manuscript and believe we have fully addressed the revisions requested. Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to each of the reviewers for providing the feedback.
Reviewer #1:
In the current manuscript, the author summarized the relationship of grit with PA, sitting time, and dietary behaviors in several populations that included US adults, active duty military, veterans, college students, and performing artists and found that grit had a positive influence on PA, sitting time and dietary behaviors across the 30 unique populations. However, there are still some concerns inside the manuscript.
Response: Thank you for your time reviewing your manuscript and the feedback provided.
- Study 1, 3 and 4 all collected the data from COVID-19 pandemic time, as the author mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic and its physical distancing policies may impact participants in manners not accounted for in the studies. Is there really grit during the pandemic time instead of the pressure under the environment and policies?
Response: This is an interesting question the reviewer raises. We should first say that study 2 data was also collected during the same time periods as the other 3 studies. This information has been added to the manuscript. In regards to whether there is grit during the pandemic it is our belief that, supported by results in our manuscript, grit does influence healthy lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sitting and diet) during challenging times such as the pandemic. However, with the cross-sectional design of the studies we are unable to discern how, or if, the COVID-19 pandemic policies affected the reported relationships in the samples. Studies conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic have found grit to to associated with physical activity and lifestyle behaviors:
Allee MF, Anderson SE, Bloom MJ, et al. The Influence of Chronotype and Grit on Lifestyle and Physical Activity. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal. 2020;4(2):57-70. doi:10.18061/bhac.v4i2.7617
Dunston ER, Messina ES, Coelho AJ, et al. Physical activity is associated with grit and resilience in college students: Is intensity the key to success? Journal of American College Health. 2020;0(0):1-7. doi:10.1080/07448481.2020.1740229
We’ve expanded upon the cross-sectional design and COVID-19 policies during the time data was collected as a limitation.
- Line 173, in table 1.1, “non-smokers : smokers – 9.1% : 90.9%”.
Response: This is fixed. Thank you.
- In Line 361, the author cited the highest (3.6 ± 0.6) from active duty military, however, the artist also had a high grit (3.6 ± 0.7), how to explain this part?
Response: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have fixed the omission in the paper. As far as differences in the relationships between grit and the lifestyle behaviors (MVPA, sitting, diet) we believe occupational demands and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were contributing factors. Lines 363-371 raise these issues. Unfortunately, our methodolgy did not allow to collect data to further explore the nuances in the relationships reported. In regards, to differences in grit levels between the samples in each study, specificially active duty military and performing artists, we postulate that individuals would need to posess the characteristics encompassed in grit to pursue and remain in those professions. Additionally, the mean age of active duty military and performing artists was slightly older than the samples in other studies. Prior literature has reported that adults who are older have higher levels of grit and thus that likely also contributed to differences in grit between samples.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments to the author:
The Manuscript " Influence of grit on physical activity, sitting time and dietary behaviours: a multi-study”. This study analysed the findings indicated that grit had a positive influence on PA, sitting time and dietary behaviours across the unique populations; however, the relationships indicated some nuanced differences amongst the populations. The manuscript needs revisions before acceptance.
Comments:
1-Please mention the sample numbers clearly for each study group
2-Biochemical parameters should be done to show clear effects on physical activity
3- Moreover, cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) need to measure the given subjects
Author Response
Manuscript ID.: sustainability-2107222
Title: Influence of grit on physical activity, sitting time and dietary behaviors: a multi-study
December 17, 2022
Sustainability Editorial Board,
We are pleased our manuscript and believe we have fully addressed the revisions requested. Additionally, we would like to express our appreciation to each of the reviewers for providing the feedback.
Reviewer #2:
The Manuscript " Influence of grit on physical activity, sitting time and dietary behaviours: a multi-study”. This study analysed the findings indicated that grit had a positive influence on PA, sitting time and dietary behaviours across the unique populations; however, the relationships indicated some nuanced differences amongst the populations. The manuscript needs revisions before acceptance.
Response: Thank you for your time reviewing your manuscript and the feedback provided.
Comments:
1-Please mention the sample numbers clearly for each study group
Response: The sample numbers for each study group have been added to the text.
2-Biochemical parameters should be done to show clear effects on physical activity
Response: The reviewer makes an important point that biochemical parameters were not measured to understand whether there were clinically relevant association with physical activity. Due to the large sample sizes and use of online survey instruments to collect data when in-person human subject testing was not allowed in our laboratories these measures were unable to be collection. This limitation has been added to the paper.
3- Moreover, cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) need to measure the given subjects
Response: Another good point by the reviewer and admittedly a limitation of the study. For the reasons mentioned in response to the comment on biochemical parameters we were not able to perform cardiorespiratory tests. Similarly, these have been added as a limitation.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
I agree with the present form
