Monday, October 26, 2026
Science

Spending in‑person time with friends is the biggest predictor of whether college students flourish

Exercise, avoiding alcohol or even getting enough sleep aren't the factors most connected to college students' well-being. Spending face-to-face time with friends and other people is the strongest predictor of their mental health, according to a 2026 study of nearly 80,000 students that I conducted...

Spending in‑person time with friends is the biggest predictor of whether college students flourish
Image: Phys.org
Exercise, avoiding alcohol or even getting enough sleep aren't the factors most connected to college students' well-being. Spending face-to-face time with friends and other people is the strongest predictor of their mental health, according to a 2026 study of nearly 80,000 students that I conducted with the help of my students.

Originally published at Phys.org

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