We studied the impact of the course on college student well-being. Not just whether students liked it, but whether it changed how they think, feel, and show up in their lives.
Here's what we’ve found so far...
Across three universities and drawing on data from 651 students (split between those who took the course and those who did not), we found that undergraduates who took Art and Science of Human Flourishing reported greater flourishing, attention, self-compassion, and empathy, along with fewer depressive symptoms.
Published in Mindfulness (2022)
Three universities taught Art and Science of Human Flourishing three different ways, some leaned on lecture, others on hands-on activities. We wanted to know if the exact teaching style matter. Student outcomes held steady across the universities, which suggests our course model is not dependent on a prescribed teaching style.
Published in the Journal of American College Health (2021)
When the course had to move online during COVID-19, we didn't know if the course would still be effective. Fortunately, it was. Students across three universities who took the virtual version still showed gains in flourishing, along with drops in depressive symptoms.
Published in The Journal of American College Health (2025)
Months after finishing the course, and some over a year later, we checked back in with former students during the isolation of the pandemic lockdown. Alumni of the course were doing measurably better in terms of lower anxiety, lower reports of depression, and higher flourishing than students who did not take the course.
Published in JAMA (2024)
Why wait until college? In our latest research, we partnered with high school students across Pennsylvania to reimagine what a human flourishing course could look like for adolescents.
The result is a new, for-credit high school course, Science of Human Connection, designed specifically for teenagers as they navigate stress, relationships, purpose, and what it means to live a flourishing life. We even invited high school students to choose the course name.
Published in SSM - Mental Health (2026)