Nurturing Resilient Youth: Grit, Self-Determination, and Character Formation in Indonesian Pesantren

Husni Husni — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) face an increasing demand to foster psychological resilience among youth who must navigate intense religious curricula alongside modern educational pressures. While traditional schooling often emphasizes endurance through spiritual asceticism, modern psychology frames perseverance and motivation through grit and Self-Determination Theory (SDT). This article examines how Western motivational constructs can be meaningfully harmonized with classical Islamic educational values. Rather than imposing individualistic assumptions onto a communal, faith-centered environment, the analysis explores the natural resonance between basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—and traditional virtues such as ikhtiyar, istiqamah, and ukhuwwah. It also addresses the structural paradoxes of hierarchical authority, curricular constraints, and social stress in boarding institutions, showing how participatory leadership, context-responsive teaching, and peer support systems can prevent academic burnout. Moving beyond rigid compliance, the article highlights the necessity of culturally valid measurement tools, empathetic mentorship, and institutional adaptation. Ultimately, cultivating resilient santri requires an intentional balance between adaptive kiai leadership, autonomy-supportive pedagogy, and communal solidarity, ensuring that religious character formation nurtures both spiritual depth and emotional agency in an era of rapid social change.

The Social Studies: An International Journal

Nurturing Resilient Youth: Grit, Self-Determination, and Character Formation in Indonesian Pesantren