Academic Engagement Predicts Flourishing among Students in Online Learning Setup: the Mediating Role of Psychological Needs

Education is now constantly evolving brought about by the threats of COVID-19 pandemic Various measures have been implemented to reduce face-to-face contact including transitioning from live classes to online or distance learning programs The extant literature suggests that the COVID outbreak as well as the abrupt transition to remote learning may cause psychological distress to the affected population This research aims to uncover if student participation and engagement in the online classroom even during adversity can lead to flourishing It was also investigated if the fulfillment of psychological needs plays a role in this relationship There were 380 students (242females, 125 males) who participated in the online survey The analyses revealed that academic engagement was directly and indirectly linked to higher levels of flourishing among learners It was also discovered that the fulfillment of the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness explain how engagement led to well-being With these findings, it can be argued that student participation in classroom activities even in unprecedented times considered as an important avenue in satisfying psychological needs which in turn leads to optimal psychological functioning The theoretical and practical implications of these findings were also discussed