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Student Flourishing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Photo courtesy iStock

The Art and Science of Human Flourishing course was developed through a collaboration between the Center for Healthy Minds, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Virginia. The course has been offered to first-year students each fall at all three campuses beginning in 2017. Preliminary research conducted at the three campuses in 2018 and 2019 was promising. Students in the course reported lower anxiety and depression, and greater well-being and happiness among other benefits. This follow-up study invited study participants from 2018 and 2019 to report on their stress, well-being, coping and public health compliance behaviors in the midst of the COVID-19 national shutdown. This study will allow us to learn whether there are protective effects of learning well-being skills on stress during crises, and whether this learning also supports prosocial behaviors in the form of compliance to public health mandates.

People Working on This Study

Matthew Hirshberg
Matt Hirshberg
Scientist, Center for Healthy Minds
Claire Rosenberger
Claire Rosenberger
Former Associate Research Specialist, Center for Healthy Minds

Media Related to this Project

Cool Class: This Course is Improving Students’ Mental Health
Sep 18, 2023
The Art & Science of Human Flourishing is a collaborative course that helps students develop their own mindfulness toolkit to navigate their first year of college and beyond. And a recent study shows it works. Now, professors and researchers are hoping to find a way to share their findings beyond the classroom and in the community.
Center for Healthy Minds Higher Education Fund to receive 2023 senior class gift
Apr 14, 2023
The Senior Class Office selected the Center for Healthy Minds, an organization focused on research regarding mental health and well-being, to receive their annual gift.
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