The WELLS course is a new type of research-based well-being and working skills solution. The course integrates a core competency of modern working and psychological flexibility with essential study skills. The solution...
Psychological flexibility skills are the core competencies of study skills.
Essential study skills that are applicable to most fields facilitate building functioning and efficient higher education communities.
Psychological flexibility and its application to essential study skills are at the core of the WELLS intervention.
Psychological flexibility refers to the ability to focus on the current situation, and opportunities, take action towards achieving goals and values even in the presence of difficulties. Psychologically flexible individuals will base their behavior on their goals and values instead of solely relying on situational factors or their fluctuating internal states. The underlying idea is that people are more psychologically healthy and perform more effectively when actions are driven by personal values and goals.
The WELLS intervention course has previously been studied widely in university contexts in Finland. The results have established that the course increases participants’ psychological flexibility and positively impacts university students’ well-being, learning experiences, motivation, efficiency and meaningfulness of learning (Katajavuori et al., 2021). The course has also been associated with positive changes in students’ organized study skills and procrastination and a decrease in study-related burnout (Asikainen & Katajavuori, 2023). Students have additionally described the effectiveness of the course in learning stress management, which was found to have a positive impact on their studies (Asikainen et al., 2019).
After participating in the WELLS intervention, people are more psychologically healthy and are able to perform more effectively.
The core institutional benefits from offering the WELLS course to students:
The long-term goal is to decrease the negative effects arising from mental health issues to the institution, thus enabling more successful study outcomes.
The Wells Finland venture team is currently researching the applicability and impact of Wells wellbeing and study skills course in international higher education contexts.
We are currently looking for pilot organizations who have an interest in enhancing their student wellbeing through a research-based digital solution. Piloting is free of charge.
Join us, together we can find even more effective ways to promote student well-being and study skills!