Can the Academic and Experiential Study of Flourishing Improve Flourishing in College Students? A Multi-University Study.
Matthew J. Hirshberg, Blake A Colaianne, Mark Greenberg, Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas, Richard J. Davidson, David Germano, John D. Dunne, Robert W Roeser
Mindfulness September 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-022-01952-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Two-wave, multi-site, propensity-score matched controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 651 |
| Population | Primarily first-year (89.1%) undergraduate college students |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Flourishing |
| Key findings | Students who enrolled in the Art and Science of Human Flourishing course reported significantly reduced depression and improved flourishing, attention and social-emotional skills (e.g., attention function, self-compassion), and prosocial attitudes (empathic concern, shared humanity) compared with matched controls, with effect sizes of Cohen's d = 0.18-0.46. No evidence was found for impacts on health or risk behaviors, which the authors suggest may require more time to change. |
Abstract
Significant concerns have been raised about the "mental health crisis" on college campuses, with attention turning to what colleges can do beyond counseling services to address students' mental health and well-being. We examined whether primarily first-year (89.1%) undergraduate students (n=651) who enrolled in the Art and Science of Human Flourishing (ASHF), a novel academic and experiential for-credit elective course on human flourishing, would demonstrate improved mental health and strengthen skills, perspectives, and behaviors associated with flourishing relative to students who did not enroll in this course. In a two-wave, multi-site, propensity-score matched controlled trial (ASHF n=217, Control n=434; N=651), we used hierarchal linear models and false discovery rate corrected doubly robust estimates to evaluate the impact of the ASHF on attention and social-emotional skill development, flourishing perspectives, mental health, health, and risk behavior outcomes. ASHF participants reported significantly improved mental health (i.e., reduced depression) and flourishing, improvements on multiple attention and social-emotional skills (e.g., attention function, self-compassion), and increases in prosocial attitudes (empathic concern, shared humanity; Cohen's ds= 0.18-0.46) compared to controls. There was no evidence for ASHF course impacts on health or risk behaviors, raising the possibility that these outcomes take more time to change. This research provides initial evidence that the ASHF course may be a promising curricular approach to reduce and potentially prevent poor mental health while promoting flourishing in college students. Continued research is needed to confirm these conclusions.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- The Mindful Way From Information to Knowledge, to Wisdom, and to Life: Perspectives on Mindfulness (-Based Cognitive Therapy) for Higher Education. Mindfulness 2025
- Teacher-Guided vs. Self-Guided Mindfulness in Higher Education: Comparable Effects on Emotion Regulation, Trait Mindfulness, and Adverse Effects Mindfulness March 1, 2026
- Examining the Cultural Consensus on Beliefs About Mindfulness Among US College-Attending Young Adults. Mindfulness August 23, 2022
Cites 12
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
- Effect of kindness-based meditation on health and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 30, 2014
- Toward the Integration of Meditation into Higher Education: A Review of Research Evidence Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education March 1, 2011
and 7 more in the library