Application of the PERMA Model of Well-being in Undergraduate Students

Melissa K Kovich; Vicki L Simpson; Karen J Foli; Zachary Hass; Rhonda G Phillips

doi:10.1007/s42413-022-00184-4

Application of the PERMA Model of Well-being in Undergraduate Students

Int J Community Wellbeing. 2023;6(1):1-20. doi: 10.1007/s42413-022-00184-4. Epub 2022 Oct 26.

Authors

Melissa K Kovich¹, Vicki L Simpson², Karen J Foli², Zachary Hass^{2

3}, Rhonda G Phillips¹

Affiliations

¹ Honors College, Purdue University, 1101 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA.
² School of Nursing, Purdue University, 502. N. University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA.
³ School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, 315 N. Grant Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA.

Abstract

The PERMA model was introduced by Seligman in 2011 to increase and measure well-being. This model defines well-being in terms of Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment (PERMA). Mental health concerns are common in undergraduate students and may prevent them from obtaining optimal well-being. The purpose of this study was to test whether all five PERMA elements of well-being could be constructed from items within the 2018 Purdue University Student Experience at a Research University (SERU) survey. Using confirmatory factor analysis, all five PERMA constructs were supported and demonstrated good model fit statistics. A second order PERMA well-being construct was built and demonstrated adequate model fit with RMSEA = 0.04. All five constructs were significant at p < .001. Accomplishment had the highest factor loading (0.76) and Meaning had the lowest factor loading (0.25). Results for this study support use of well-being theory in the context of undergraduate students and provides enhanced understanding of well-being characteristics in this population.

Keywords: College students; Higher education; PERMA; Positive psychology; Well-being.

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