Mental health and personal resourcefulness in adversity: A mixed-methods evaluation of a wellbeing program for university students in London
Maria-Christina Vourda, Mário Cesar do Nascimento Bevilaqua, Andrea du Preez2, Radhika Kandaswamy, Carolina Kralj, Alys Higgins, Brenda P. Williams, Patricia A. Zunszain, and Gisele P. Dias
Citation: Vourda, M. C., Bevilaqua, M. C. D. N., Du Preez, A., Kandaswamy, R., Kralj, C., Higgins, A., Williams, B. P., Zunszain, P. A., & Dias, G. P. (2025). Mental health and personal resourcefulness in adversity: A mixed-methods evaluation of a wellbeing program for university students in London. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 9, 3, 1-18.
https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-9-2025/volume-9-article-3
Processing dates: Submitted 15 November 2024; Resubmitted 24 February 2025; Accepted 7 March 2025; Published 2 June 2025
Abstract
Background/Aims/Objectives: The wellbeing of university students is alarmingly in decline. This study evaluated the effects of an online positive psychology program on university students’ wellbeing during global adversity.
Methods: The program, Time to Thrive (TTT), covered loneliness, stress management/resilience, and positive psychology/solution-focused skills. Master’s students from a London-based university were recruited. The study used a mixed-methods single-group design with 38 students taking part in its evaluation. Participants completed the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA LS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS) and the Flourishing Scale (FS) pre-post intervention. Five participants engaged in one focus group and nine in individual interviews to capture feedback on TTT.
Results: Participants significantly improved in wellbeing (WEMWBS: t(34)=3.33, p=0.002; effect size (ES):0.56), personal growth (PGIS: t(35)=2.84, p=0.007; ES:0.47), resilience (BRS: t(36)=2.05, p=0.048; ES:0.34), flourishing (FS: Z = -2.85, p=0.004; ES: -0.47) but had an increase in loneliness (UCLA LS: Z = -1.98, p=0.048, ES:-0.32). Thematic analysis identified TTT as valuable in fostering students’ personal resourcefulness.
Discussion: Overall, TTT could serve as an important initiative for enhancing wellbeing and empowering students to navigate life with greater resilience, fostering a positive and fulfilling existence. However, the long-term effects of TTT needs to be assessed.
Conclusion: TTT improved most measures of wellbeing in a university student population, further supporting the usefulness of positive psychology interventions for young adults.
Keywords: mental wellbeing, university students, adversity
Biographies
Maria-Christina Vourda is with the Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5884-6952
Mário Cesar do Nascimento Bevilaqua is with the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7648-8677
Andrea du Preez is with the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9251-1534
Radhika Kandaswamy is with the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1028-4313
Carolina Kralj is with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2367-6500
Alys Higgins is with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6085-4307
Brenda P Williams is with the Basic and Clinical Neuroscience Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4690-5932
Patricia A. Zunszain is with the Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8853-5680
Gisele P. Dias is with the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, London, UK and also the Institute of Education (IoE), Psychology & Human Development Department, London, University College London, UK.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7276-2010