# Spending in‑person time with friends is the biggest predictor of whether college students flourish

- Source: Phys.org
- Published: 2026-10-26T22:30:01+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-inperson-friends-biggest-predictor-college.html
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/spending-in-person-time-with-friends-is-the-biggest-predictor-of-wheth-b73b12/

Exercise, avoiding alcohol or even getting enough sleep aren't the factors most connected to college students' well-being. Spending face-to-face time with friends and other people is the strongest predictor of their mental health, according to a 2026 study of nearly 80,000 students that I conducted with the help of my students.

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