The Resilience Lab initiated a longitudinal study in Fall 2017 to gather baseline data on student well-being. Students were surveyed before they started attending the UW, during their first quarter, and at the end of their first year. The 2017 data includes 6,614 first-year students and offers insights into their experiences and opportunities to consider data-driven responses to student and community needs. The same survey was administered to incoming students in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

A trans-disciplinary research team is analyzing responses and learning about students’ internal resources (e.g., hope, optimism, resilience, efficacy, self-compassion) and external resources (e.g., social supports, connectedness). This information may illuminate what resources buffer students against stressful events and support their long-term mental health, academic achievement, and overall thriving at the University.

As we analyze the data, we will share content on this page.