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'We Are All in the Same Boat': University Student Experiences of the Comfort Corner Wellbeing Program

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Title: 'We Are All in the Same Boat': University Student Experiences of the Comfort Corner Wellbeing Program
Language: English
Authors: Patrice Whitehorne-Smith, Melissa Scott, Bahareh Afsharnejad, Phoebe Simpson, Maya Hayden-Evans, Rachel Oliver, Kim Tran, Avery Wong, Rachel Sheffield, Sherry Bawa, Sonya Girdler, Ben Milbourn
Source: Higher Education Studies. 2026 16(1):427-443.
Availability: Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1595 Sixteenth Ave Suite 301, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3N9 Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: hes@ccsenet.org; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/hes
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Students, Student Welfare, College Programs, College Freshmen, Foreign Students, Stress Variables, Resilience (Psychology), Mental Health, Mentors, Animals, Coping, Peer Relationship, Academic Achievement, Student Experience, Student Satisfaction, Program Effectiveness
ISSN: 1925-4741
1925-475X
Abstract: The transition to university is associated with heightened psychological distress, particularly for international and first-year students. This convergent mixed methods study aimed to explore student mentees' experiences of "The Comfort Corner," a co-designed, student-led wellbeing program. One hundred students completed an online survey exploring their psychological wellbeing, resilience, perceived academic performance, sense of belonging, stress, and program experience, with a further 12 students participating in semi-structured interviews. Most survey participants were first-year (69%) and international students, with common stressors including balancing study, work and social life, and keeping up with assignments. Quantitative analyses showed that sense of belonging and lower stress significantly predicted higher scores for psychological wellbeing, while sense of belonging and faculty (i.e., Science and Engineering) predicted lower perceived academic performance. Sense of belonging was, in turn, predicted by psychological wellbeing and perceived academic performance. No demographic or contextual variables predicted resilience. Deductive qualitative content analysis was used to map content to five overarching descriptors: fostering a community of support for students on campus, providing a safe and welcoming environment, making connections with fellow students, helping fellow students, and linking students to professional support. Students particularly valued the informal, non-judgmental space, relatability of peer mentors, and access to the therapy dog. Findings suggest that low-cost, co-designed peer mentoring and animal-assisted initiatives can enhance belonging and wellbeing for students enrolled in higher education.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505465
Database: ERIC
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  Data: 'We Are All in the Same Boat': University Student Experiences of the Comfort Corner Wellbeing Program
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patrice+Whitehorne-Smith%22">Patrice Whitehorne-Smith</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+Scott%22">Melissa Scott</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bahareh+Afsharnejad%22">Bahareh Afsharnejad</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Phoebe+Simpson%22">Phoebe Simpson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maya+Hayden-Evans%22">Maya Hayden-Evans</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+Oliver%22">Rachel Oliver</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kim+Tran%22">Kim Tran</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Avery+Wong%22">Avery Wong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+Sheffield%22">Rachel Sheffield</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sherry+Bawa%22">Sherry Bawa</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sonya+Girdler%22">Sonya Girdler</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ben+Milbourn%22">Ben Milbourn</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education+Studies%22"><i>Higher Education Studies</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(1):427-443.
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  Data: Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1595 Sixteenth Ave Suite 301, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3N9 Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: hes@ccsenet.org; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/hes
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Welfare%22">Student Welfare</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Programs%22">College Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Freshmen%22">College Freshmen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Students%22">Foreign Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+Variables%22">Stress Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resilience+%28Psychology%29%22">Resilience (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentors%22">Mentors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Animals%22">Animals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coping%22">Coping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Satisfaction%22">Student Satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink>
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  Data: The transition to university is associated with heightened psychological distress, particularly for international and first-year students. This convergent mixed methods study aimed to explore student mentees' experiences of "The Comfort Corner," a co-designed, student-led wellbeing program. One hundred students completed an online survey exploring their psychological wellbeing, resilience, perceived academic performance, sense of belonging, stress, and program experience, with a further 12 students participating in semi-structured interviews. Most survey participants were first-year (69%) and international students, with common stressors including balancing study, work and social life, and keeping up with assignments. Quantitative analyses showed that sense of belonging and lower stress significantly predicted higher scores for psychological wellbeing, while sense of belonging and faculty (i.e., Science and Engineering) predicted lower perceived academic performance. Sense of belonging was, in turn, predicted by psychological wellbeing and perceived academic performance. No demographic or contextual variables predicted resilience. Deductive qualitative content analysis was used to map content to five overarching descriptors: fostering a community of support for students on campus, providing a safe and welcoming environment, making connections with fellow students, helping fellow students, and linking students to professional support. Students particularly valued the informal, non-judgmental space, relatability of peer mentors, and access to the therapy dog. Findings suggest that low-cost, co-designed peer mentoring and animal-assisted initiatives can enhance belonging and wellbeing for students enrolled in higher education.
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      – Text: English
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        StartPage: 427
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Welfare
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Programs
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      – SubjectFull: College Freshmen
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Students
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      – SubjectFull: Animals
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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