Where do happiness and wellbeing fit into education? According to psychologist Sonya Lyubomirsky, happiness is defined as “the experience of joy, contentment, or positive wellbeing, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.”
In other words, happy students usually share a combination of positive emotions and meaningfulness, both of which contribute greatly to their overall learning process and wellbeing.
Of course, educational success is rightly attributed to getting a job at the end of your studies - developing academic skills and experiences in your chosen field are crucial in selecting the right career path, which will become a huge part of your adulthood.
But anyone who’s experienced post-graduate life knows that there’s so much more to life than work. Fostering positive emotions and having a sense of meaning in both our work and our personal lives is critical to our mental wellbeing beyond academic success.
Is student happiness under threat?
Many observers say that student happiness is under threat due to a worsening mental health crisis. Research shows that 50% of students have considered leaving their course because of mental health challenges.
Alarmingly, 7 in every 10 students have either been diagnosed with a long-term mental health condition, are experiencing a short-term mental health condition, or think they may have a condition that has not been diagnosed.
The pandemic brought student’s mental health into sharp focus. The lack of social opportunities and feelings of isolation and loneliness during lockdown hit young people hard, creating a perfect storm for anxiety and depression to fester.
The list of challenges young people face is only getting longer. Ever-rising rents, inflation, and a cost-of-living crisis are adding to the social and financial stress placed on students, often resulting in high drop-out rates, or making the decision to not go to university at all.
The Student Happiness Index 2023
The Student Happiness Index is a yearly study carried out by the student-specialist insurance company, Endsleigh. The study measures how happy and optimistic students feel, as well as what is motivating them to succeed, and their worries for the future. It provides us with a glimpse into how students are feeling and the difficulties they are currently facing.
Amongst the students surveyed, 38 per cent said their mental health had worsened compared to 29 per cent in 2022. There has also been an increase in students who have accessed mental health support, and 49 per cent of all students surveyed are concerned their mental health will deteriorate more over the next 12 months, with undergraduate scores sitting at 45 per cent.
The rising cost-of-living is having a detrimental effect on students with worries about finances topping the list of concerns again this year. This is especially pronounced amongst students with no financial support from family.
However, the report determined that overall, students are as happy as they were last year, with happiness levels remaining stable. Students cited being able to socialise with friends, getting to know new people, and being part of social clubs and organisations as key to their happiness.
What exactly are we educating for?
Ultimately, we must ask ourselves, ‘What exactly are we educating for?’ As our society evolves and as we gain a deeper understanding of who we are as human beings, the answer to this question is changing. No longer is it enough to train for job skills—because how we live our lives really matters.
We believe that happiness in higher education should be on the list of top priorities of all universities and colleges. Collectively, we are increasingly recognising the importance of student happiness and mental health in achieving academic goals and career success. Happy students tend to be more motivated, productive, and likely to stay longer in higher education.
