Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About Student Well-Being?

Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About Student Well-Being?

From Change Starts Here by Franklin Covey Education

April 14, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of psychological richness in relation to student well-being and offers practical strategies for educators.

In this episode of Change Starts Here, Kim Yaris and Dr. Eve Miller dive into the critical topic of student well-being, especially relevant as climate survey data rolls in for the end of the year. While most schools measure happiness and meaningfulness, Dr. Miller highlights groundbreaking research by Erin Westgate and Shigehiro Oishi that introduces a third, often overlooked dimension: "psychological richness". Listeners will discover what psychological richness is, experiences that fundamentally shift how you see the world, and why it is distinct from both happiness and meaning. The hosts explain how a school might score perfectly on happiness metrics while still leaving students feeling like they're just going through the motions. They offer three highly practical ways for educators to build psychological richness into their daily routines: asking the right reflective questions, making perspective shifts visible, and actively seeking out unfamiliar viewpoints. Handout: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/podcast_handout_epis-31?x=mRNVAO Staff Booster: https://resources.franklincovey.com/c/lim_staffbooster_epi31?x=mRNVAO Hosts: Kim Yaris, M.Ed. (Associate Director of Research…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kim Yaris, Dr. Eve Miller

Topics covered

  • student well-being
  • psychological richness
  • education
  • happiness
  • meaning

Keywords

  • student well-being
  • psychological richness
  • happiness metrics
  • education strategies
  • perspective shifts

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FranklinCovey Education

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