Flourishing of Students in a Tertiary Education Institution in South Africa

Abstract

The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between flourishing and academic performance (AP), life satisfaction (SWT), and positive affect (PA). A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used on a convenience sample of university students (n = 845). The Mental Health Continuum Long Form (MHC-LF), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and Satisfaction with Life Scales (SWLS) were administered. Academic performance was determined through averaging all the participants' modules for the first semester. Individuals with moderate levels of flourishing typically performed in the ‘above average’ to ‘excelling academically’ range. Furthermore, a large number of individuals who were underperforming were also languishing. Flourishing students experienced higher levels of positive affect and life satisfaction, as well as lower levels of negative affect than their languishing and moderately flourishing counterparts. The relationship between flourishing and academic performance is complex, it would seem that flourishing/languishing plays a role in academic performance. Finally, flourishing relates to both PA and SWL, which supports the construct validity of flourishing's conceptualisation.