No abstract

As mental health problems rise among college students, universities will experience increased pressure to provide resources and services to meet students' needs. While a positive psychology (PP) course is not typically taken for therapeutic benefits, completing such a course could be especially relevant to college students as PP courses and PP interventions have shown promise in promoting well-being. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, the current study examined the effects of completing an introductory PP course on students' wellbeing outcomes during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. The exploratory quantitative and qualitative component examined how participants experienced the pandemic impacting their well-being and goal pursuits. The results indicated that semester long PP courses may be useful in promoting components of well-being among college students. Further, the findings highlighted the nuanced experiences students had during the first 17 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions, practical implications for postsecondary settings, and recommendations for future research are discussed.