OPINION: Defining Wellbeing

By: Caroline Hanson

“Wellbeing” – A term we hear used frequently in regard to things like mental health and health. These are, of course, two major and important components of an individual’s wellbeing; but not the whole picture. While there has been an increase in student support options on campuses nationwide (Yale University, Boston University, University of Maryland), it is important for our country’s higher education institutions to make sure they are looking at wellbeing in a more holistic sense.

When we look specifically at the wellbeing of college students, the topic becomes infinitely more complex. College is a crucial time in a young adult’s identity development, as well as a time of cognitive and social development. As college students, we are juggling a lot. On top of academics, we are expected to maintain relationships, work internships, meet with professors, join clubs, and still sleep 8 hours. We are told that if we do all of these things, we will feel as though we have reached peak wellbeing. I have seen many of my peers struggle with the idea that we need to be checking all of these boxes. We need to remember that wellbeing is personal; what will lead one person to peak wellbeing will not be for the next person. It is a difficult concept to operationalize.

So, how do we define wellbeing? There is not one correct definition. It is a construct that is constantly evolving and changing based on the individual. I personally view wellbeing as the status and relationships between a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

Finding personal wellbeing is a process; and colleges and universities should prioritize helping their students find what areas of their wellbeing need support. I remember a friend who was struggling with dropping the extra course she was taking that semester. This class had made it so that many of her areas of wellbeing were suffering. Her advisor asked her how much time she had to rest and relax, and being asked this by a member of an academic institution’s staff was shocking, but allowed her to reach the decision that ultimately led to an improvement in her personal wellbeing.

If colleges and universities want to help their students thrive, then these areas of their lives need to be supported. Colleges and universities have been increasing wellness resources on their campuses (WPI, College of the Holy Cross, Ohio State) However, many of these only focus on a few areas of student wellness. Mental wellbeing, which has been seeing many wonderful campus supports, is a key factor in an individual’s overall wellbeing. However, focusing solely on mental health and wellbeing underestimates how complex an individual’s holistic sense of wellbeing truly is. An example of some commonly overlooked areas of a student’s wellbeing would be financial wellbeing and sense of belonging on campus. A student’s ability to afford rent, feel a sense of belonging in their community, or find purpose in their studies all play just as important a role in wellbeing as access to counseling.

You may be asking what can be done to normalize this more holistic sense of wellbeing on college campuses? Look on your own campus and find areas where student wellbeing is being addressed well, but also identify areas where it may be lacking. Is housing or textbook affordability a common issue? Are students in an environment that is conducive to learning and living well? Find an area for improvement and work towards bettering that area of campus life with fellow students. Take note of who supports similar initiatives on campus, and ask if they would support your efforts. Create a community of students who care about the issue at hand, and utilize your collective power. As students and universities have a broader perspective on the idea of wellbeing, we will see students able to truly live well during their college and university years.

Caroline Hanson is a member of the Council on Student Wellbeing and a junior at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, studying Psychology.