Key findings of the IE University Student Well-being Report 2023-2024

Since its opening in 2019,  IE Center for Health and Well-Being has been dedicated to enhancing the well-being of the IE Community through a holistic approach that integrates physical, mental and emotional health. The Center focuses on empowering students, staff and the broader community to thrive—academically, professionally, and personally—by equipping people with the skills and knowledge they need to manage modern challenges.

Universities around the world face increasing challenges in supporting their students. Rising levels of stress, anxiety and depression are common among students due to factors such as academic pressures, financial worries and the struggle to balance studies with personal life. Mental health issues can be exacerbated by social isolation and the transition to independent living. These issues highlight the need for institutions to adopt comprehensive approaches to nurture students' mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

The IE Student Well-being Survey

The IE Student Well-being Survey was launched to gain an insight into students’ health and well-being both before and after their participation in a compulsory, two-session well-being workshop. Surveying students at these points would give the Center an insight into the impact that its work was having on the community. Furthermore, it would inform future efforts  and key areas of focus by providing a greater understanding of the factors that enable and hinder students’ well-being.

Between September and November 2023, 3,101 students completed the survey pre- and post-workshop. The respondents were bachelor’s and master’s students and were an almost equal split of 52% females and 48% males aged between 18 and 55 years old. 62% of participants were enrolled at IE Business School, with the remaining 38% from the other schools at IE University.

Key findings

The good news is that most IE University students reported high life satisfaction levels compared to international rankings, and they also reported a healthy lifestyle and strong social connections. Approximately 50% of bachelor’s students and 80% of master’s students hold a positive view of the well-being support that IE University provides, and show an interest in learning more about well-being.

Certainly , some key areas of challenge remain for students, and the survey highlighted those too. Almost 20% reported medium to low life satisfaction levels according to Gallup’s Life Evaluation Index. Meanwhile 10% of those surveyed said that they frequently experienced feelings of loneliness, such as lack of companionship, isolation, and feeling left out.

When it comes to study-related stress, 3% of master’s students and 9% of bachelor’s students reported that they experienced this most of the time. With increasing workloads as semesters progress, students perceived an increase in stress levels and, as a result, a drop in healthy lifestyle behaviors such as exercising, eating healthily and getting enough sleep. Contemplative practices such as meditation, spiritual practices and volunteering, remained low.

The survey showed that there are two key factors affecting students’ life satisfaction and well-being:

• Loneliness: students who experience higher levels of loneliness tended to report lower life satisfaction.

• Satisfaction with IE University: students' satisfaction with IE University—such as feeling supported by faculty, enjoying campus resources, or feeling part of a positive community—directly correlates with their life satisfaction. Lower satisfaction is linked to decreased overall well-being.

Changes in student health after well-being training

Results from the second survey, conducted after students completed their mandatory well-being training, showed some positive changes.

Students reported a notable rise in their engagement with contemplative practices and an increased awareness of the well-being resources available to them at the university. They appreciate the well-being training, reflecting an enhanced perception of the support provided by IE University for their overall wellness.

Many students plan to continue integrating well-being practices into their lives: one third of bachelor’s students and half of master’s students reported participating in well-being activities since the training. What’s more, nearly 70% of participants indicated their intention to maintain these practices moving forward. This training has also led to significant improvements in students' life satisfaction and overall flourishing.

Coming together to present the findings

To celebrate the publishing of the report and present its findings to the IE Community, IE Center for Health and Well-being held an event at our iconic IE Tower in Madrid. Attendees learned about the purpose and evolution of the study, before learning the key findings and having the opportunity to ask their questions. This was followed by a networking cocktail, giving participants the chance to discuss the findings of the report further and share their own personal experiences and insights.

Continuing to build a vibrant and healthy community

The IE Student Well-being survey is an essential tool for gaining a deeper understanding of students’ health and assessing the effectiveness of the university’s support systems. By gathering direct feedback, it highlights both the successes and areas where ongoing action is needed, helping the Center to refine its initiatives and ensure that the well-being of the whole IE Community remains a core priority. The report presented some encouraging progress and also highlighted areas that require further attention as we continue forward with our mission to help our community thrive. Furthermore,  it has  paved the way for the subsequent stages of the ongoing research, which will also measure the impact of specific well-being interventions on our student community.