A 2026 study analyzing responses from 79,246 college students across the United States and Canada identified face-to-face social engagement as the strongest predictor of flourishing. Researchers compared 51 aspects of students' lives simultaneously, using a broad well-being measure that encompassed supportive relationships, hobbies, and purpose, as well as psychological distress.
Students who devoted more time to friends, student organizations, and cultural events tended to report greater well-being. Time spent on obligations, including paid employment and unpaid family responsibilities, ranked second among positive factors. The researchers suggested that contributing beyond oneself, rather than focusing exclusively on leisure and self-care, might also be associated with flourishing.
Interpersonal difficulties involving friends, romantic partners, or roommates had the strongest negative association. Problematic substance use, passive screen time, and disrupted sleep were also linked to poorer well-being, but less strongly. The factors associated with flourishing were similar among students with diagnosed anxiety or depression and those without those diagnoses.
The findings come amid declining in-person contact among young people. Between 2010 and 2022, the proportion of U.S. high school seniors who reported meeting friends face-to-face almost daily fell from 44% to 32%. Developing friendships and managing conflict require practice, some of which now competes with screen-based communication.
Supporting students therefore involves more than reducing screen time: clubs, recreation programs, and community events can provide opportunities for connection. Counseling and educational programs can strengthen communication and conflict-management skills. These measures do not replace effective professional care for complex mental health conditions; the researchers emphasize supportive relationships, healthy sleep, and meaningful engagement alongside treatment.
