Author(s): Nathan Tullis
Mentor(s): Neil Peterson
Institution BYU
Background Depression and anxiety are a significant national issue with university students reporting high morbidity of these mental illnesses. Universities have implemented wellness courses to improve student mental health, with pre-existing studies validating their efficacy. This study aimed to analysis feedback from students who participated in wellness courses. Methods A quasi-experimental study of wellness courses for college students was investigated with qualitative thematic analysis. The survey consisted of three free-response questions: “What did you like most about the course?”, “What components of the class were most helpful?”, and “What would you change about the course?”. The survey was distributed at the conclusion of the courses between 2021-2023 and included varying departments across a single university. Thematic analysis was conducted by two coders using an inductive approach Results A total of 79 of 121 participants responded. The most enjoyed aspects of the courses were the personal applicability of the skills and tools, and the in-class activities. The most helpful aspects of the course were weekly assignments, group discussions/peer interactions, and the course lectures. Improving communication about course expectations was the most common critique; however, the majority reported no need for course changes. Discussion/Conclusion The feedback gained from students who participated in wellness courses was valuable. The majority of students benefitted from the wellness course experience. Improving wellness courses and increasing enrollment may be one way to address the mental illness epidemic on campus. Universities without wellness courses should consider offering them based on overwhelming student satisfaction. Limitations to this study include: the variability of wellness course content and restriction to a single university. Further research could include exploring the long-term utility of wellness courses, and identifying which topics are most beneficial to students.