The University of Bristol has developed a remote course on the ‘Science of Happiness’, which has been found to significantly improve students’ mental health during the pandemic.
A University of Bristol press release states that the course is the first of its kind in the UK and the only course at the university that gives the benefit of credit towards a student’s degree without needing to take exams or do course work.
The remote course uses peer-reviewed studies in psychology and neuroscience and provides information on what has been scientifically proven to make us happier and boost our overall wellbeing.
The course was initially launched in 2018 when there was an increase in the UK of student mental health issues.
The course is led by Professor Bruce Hood, who is also behind a new study published in the journal PlosOne, that explores the experiences of students at Bristol who took the course, compared to those who did not.
The study found that the 166 students who took the course experienced better maintenance of their mental wellbeing compared to the control group, who were seen to demonstrate a decline in mental wellbeing and an increase in anxiety.
“Psychoeducational courses like the ‘Science of Happiness’ have been shown to benefit students. However, what was less clear is how it would help students during a pandemic that not only affected nearly everyone’s mental health but also meant they had to study for it online, “ Prof Hood said.
He said the results of the study were a ‘welcome sign’ that the course was achieving its aims.
The course has seen such success with over 1,200 students that it has now become a BBC podcast, ‘The Happiness Half Hour’.
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