Sacrificing sleep and skipping meals to study in quest for academic excellence actually doesn't work, a new Harvard study into 'grit' has revealed.
哈佛大学一项关于“决心”的研究表明，“废寝忘食”并不能奏效。
Children who strive for excellence tend to be seen as those who make extra sacrifices, like getting less sleep or adopting poor eating habits, in a search for top grades.
人们认为，争取优秀的孩子为了追求高分，一般都要做出额外牺牲，比如睡得少，或者养成糟糕的饮食习惯。
But the new study of 4,000 British teenagers shows those who display determination, courage and persistence also tend to have healthier lifestyles.
但是一项针对4000名英国中学生的新研究表明，那些展现出决心、勇气和坚持的学生一般会有更加健康的生活方式。
The findings, from Harvard Graduate School of Education, showed "that children who exhibit grit are also likely to look after themselves, and cultivate healthy emotional regulation skills, rather than behaving in ways that are bad for their health".
哈佛大学教育研究生院的研究结果表明，“那些有决心的孩子更可能照顾好自己，培养健康的情感管理技能，而不是养成不利于健康的行为方式。”
Studies have shown the harmful effects stress over exams have on children's health. A survey by Kellogg's published last month found that children as young as 10 smoke cigarettes, eat sweets and use energy drinks to prepare for their exams.
之前已有研究表明，考试压力过大对儿童的健康不利。凯洛格上个月发表的一项调查发现，年仅10岁的孩子就通过吸烟、吃糖果、喝能量饮料来备考。
Dr Christina Hinton, a faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, said: "Our results suggest that grit does not require pushing yourself at all costs, but rather cultivating healthy emotional regulation skills and effective learning strategies."
哈佛大学教育研究生院的教员克里斯提娜·辛顿说：“研究结果表明，追求好成绩的决心并不需要不惜一切代价来逼自己，而是要培养健康的情感管理技能和高效的学习策略。”
Children aged 11 to 18 took part in the year-long research, which was carried out during 2014 and 2015 in conjunction with four UK independent and state schools in the Wellington College Teaching Schools Alliance.
11岁至18岁的孩子参加了这项时长为一年的研究，在2014~2015年期间与惠灵顿学院教学学校联盟的四所英国独立学校和公立学校联合开展的。
Carl Hendrick, head of research at Wellington College, said it was "good news" for students who think need to "kill themselves" in order to achieve good grades.
惠灵顿学院的研究负责人卡尔·亨德里克说，这对那些认为好成绩需要“头悬梁，锥刺股”的学生来说，是个好消息。
The study also found for the first time a link between high-achieving students and helpfulness.
这项研究还首次发现成绩好的学生和乐于助人之间的联系。
The research revealed that those pupils who see themselves as having potential rather than having fixed abilities are more inclined to help their peers.
研究发现，那些认为自己有更多潜力可发掘的孩子更愿意帮助同伴。
Having a growth mindset, which children can also be taught, appears to have more impact on the others around them than previously realised, the research team said.
研究小组说，拥有成长心态对周围人的影响比之前所知的更大，而学生们也可以通过学习来获得这种心态。
The academics said: "A teenager who thinks in this way is more likely to be helpful and care more deeply about others. This may be because they think 'if I feel I can develop, I feel others can', which makes them more understanding and sympathetic."
专业学者说：“有这种思考方式的青少年更可能提供帮助，更深切关心他人。也许这是因为他们认为“如果我觉得我可以进一步发展的话，其他人也能”，这让他们更加能理解他人并富有同情心。
Vocabulary
grit: 毅力，决心
sympathetic: 有同情心的，有共鸣的
