Face-to-face social contact was the strongest predictor of flourishing in a 2026 study of 79,246 university students across the United States and Canada. Researchers compared 51 aspects of student life simultaneously, examining factors ranging from financial stress and discrimination to sleep, substance use and leisure activities.
Rather than defining well-being solely through the absence of psychological distress, the researchers incorporated supportive relationships, hobbies and a sense of meaning and purpose. Students who devoted more time to socialising, student organisations and cultural events tended to report greater well-being. Paid employment and unpaid family responsibilities ranked second, suggesting that contributing beyond oneself may be relevant alongside leisure and self-care.
Interpersonal difficulties, including conflict with friends, romantic partners and flatmates, had the strongest negative association with well-being. Problematic substance use, passive screen time and sleep difficulties were also associated with poorer outcomes, but less strongly. The factors associated with flourishing were similar among students with diagnosed anxiety or depression and those without either diagnosis.
The findings come as young people spend less time together physically and communicate more through screens. Between 2010 and 2022, the proportion of US pupils in their final year of secondary school who reported seeing friends in person almost daily fell from 44% to 32%.
The researchers argue that support should extend beyond limiting screen time to creating opportunities for in-person connection through clubs, recreation programmes and community events. Counselling and educational programmes can also strengthen communication and conflict-management skills. Such measures do not replace effective professional treatment: mental health conditions are complex, and social activities alone cannot resolve them.
