Background

Positive education aims to develop student’s skills and competencies to improve their well-being. In adverse times such as a pandemic, it is important to reinforce this mission. Models such as PERMA and SEARCH suggest the use of character strengths intervention paths for student’s well-being. The pandemic generated by Covid-19 has brought new and challenging demands for students that affected their perception and evaluation of their lives and wellbeing. Because of this, it's relevant for universities to study student’s perception on life satisfaction and which variables can improve it. Theoretical frameworks such as PERMA and SEARCH propose that character strengths is an effective way to do it.

Aims

This study aims to inquire into the relationship between the use of character strengths and life satisfaction in the students of the Tecmilenio University. 

Method

The study sampled 137 high school and college students who took the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Character Strengths Rating Form (CSRF). 

Results

The results show, through a t-test for independent samples, that students who use their strengths report higher levels of life satisfaction. A linear regression model found that the use of character strengths significantly predicts life satisfaction, specifically the strengths of curiosity, love, social intelligence, and self-regulation. 

Conclusion

Results support the importance of theoretical frameworks such as PERMA and SEARCH, that emphasis the importance of knowing, understanding, and using character strengths, as a pathway to increase student’s subjective wellbeing. These results can be a foundation for future interventions.