Factors affecting residents’ internal motivation, grit, and well-being

BACKGROUND: Residents completing competency-based medical education for postgraduate training face many challenging situations that may compromise their well-being or result in exhaustion or burnout. Factors described in self-determination theory and grit are important for residents’ achievement of learning outcomes and well-being. This study explored the relationships among internal motivation, grit, well-being, and related factors among non-Western Asian residents. METHODS: We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods survey-based study to explore correlations among satisfaction with basic psychological needs, grit, and well-being from September to November 2021 among residents at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand. Data were collected with the Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Short Grit Scale, and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index. Next, participants with the highest and lowest scores for each scale were purposively invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Interview data underwent thematic analysis and data collection continued until saturation was reached. RESULTS: In total, 245 residents (51% major ward, 65% female) completed the survey. There were strong associations between internal motivation, grit, and well-being (r = 0.46–0.90). Female residents had higher autonomy and relatedness scores than males (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively), and residents with less family responsibility had higher relatedness scores than other residents (p = 0.01). Residents who got more sleep had higher autonomy, relatedness, and well-being scores than those that slept less (p < 0.05). Residents who exercised > 5 times/week had higher well-being scores than other residents (p < 0.01). Thirty residents completed interviews. The thematic analysis revealed internal motivation, grit, and well-being were promoted by a supportive learning environment, a well-designed curriculum, actions and personalities of faculty members, and good personal factors. CONCLUSION: Internal motivation is significantly correlated with residents’ grit, well-being, gender, family burdens, exercise, and sleep hours. Priority should be given to promoting internal motivation, grit, and well-being among residents by enhancing a positive learning environment, creating well-designed curricula, fostering good characteristics and actions among faculty members, and supporting residents’ personal lives. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-023-04679-2.