Well-being of Youth: The Role of Value Orientation, Key Predictors and Impact of a Holistic Course— A Survey and Field Experiment

The well-being of the larger young population is critical for realizing a society’s demographic dividend. Since university students represent future leaders, the knowledge of their well-being and associated factors entails critical policy considerations. Addressing this need, we conducted two complementary studies. In Study 1 ( n = 783), we assessed students’ flourishing levels, value orientation and affiliated domains influencing their well-being. Findings revealed 55% exhibited moderate mental health, 33% were flourishing and 12% languishing. Ordinal logistic regression analyses indicated that the values of self-direction and achievement significantly influenced flourishing, while engaged living, social connectedness and family cohesion significantly contributed to well-being. Building upon these insights and emphasizing the role of higher-education institutions, Study 2 examined the impact of a holistic development course on markers of social connectedness (Brahmaviharas) , a predictor of well-being and the levels of flourishing. Participants ( n = 107) reported enhanced friendliness (metta) , appreciative joy (mudita) , equanimity (upekkha) and compassion (karuna) towards self and others, subsequently higher flourishing. Theoretical implications and practical recommendations are discussed.