--- title: Research: Happier Students Get Higher Grades in School description: “I only do good work when I think happy thoughts.” canonical: https://time.com/3984782/happy-students-high-grades/ author: TIME article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-07T17:33:59.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:38:18.335Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Happier Students Get Higher Grades in School, Research Says og:description: “I only do good work when I think happy thoughts.” og:url: https://time.com/3984782/happy-students-high-grades/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt45a209e684c48411/69885de5e53aba1fa94deecb/students-raising-hands-classroom.jpg?branch=production&width=507&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 507 og:image:height: 285 og:image:alt: 183768988 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Happier Students Get Higher Grades in School, Research Says twitter:description: “I only do good work when I think happy thoughts.” twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt45a209e684c48411/69885de5e53aba1fa94deecb/students-raising-hands-classroom.jpg?branch=production&width=507&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Happier Students Get Higher Grades in School, Research Says > Sponsored content. 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A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=4413848c-d6d1-48a6-b0ab-3216741d89a2&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Kids Who Are Picky Eaters Might Develop Depression, Anxiety [Watch (HLS stream): Kids Who Are Picky Eaters Might Develop Depression, Anxiety](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9Ss9RQJo.m3u8) (1:08)  _Published 2015-08-03. A study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests children with a high aversion to certain foods might develop mood disorders later in life._ by [Lauren Schiller](https://time.com/author/lauren-schiller/) and [Christina Hinton, Harvard University / The Conversation](https://time.com/author/christina-hinton/) Aug 7, 2015 5:33 PM UTC  Children are raised hands in classroom. Children are raised hands in classroom. Getty Images by [Lauren Schiller](https://time.com/author/lauren-schiller/) and [Christina Hinton, Harvard University / The Conversation](https://time.com/author/christina-hinton/) Aug 7, 2015 5:33 PM UTC What leads to success in school? Recent research suggests success is partly driven by character skills. [“Grit,”](http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2007-07951-009) for example, or perseverance and passion for long-term goals, seems to be a [better predictor](http://www.ted.com/talks/angela%5Flee%5Fduckworth%5Fthe%5Fkey%5Fto%5Fsuccess%5Fgrit?language=en) of success than IQ in school and beyond. Researchers have also demonstrated that having a “[growth mindset](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.00995.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false),” meaning that a person [recognizes](http://www.ted.com/talks/carol%5Fdweck%5Fthe%5Fpower%5Fof%5Fbelieving%5Fthat%5Fyou%5Fcan%5Fimprove?language=en) that abilities are not fixed, but developed through practice, is associated with academic success. Researchers at [Research Schools International](http://www.gse.harvard.edu/researchschools) are exploring other character skills that might contribute to success. In a recent study, we explored the relationship between happiness and student achievement. Are happy students more successful in school? What makes students happy? **Happiness and academic success** First, what exactly is happiness? Harvard psychologist [Daniel Gilbert](https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2U-HbwwjR24C&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=daniel+gilbert+pursuit+of+happiness&ots=9UhBfIqehv&sig=obxDI7vIxLgvUy6eiyIQ1vPnKxQ#v=onepage&q=daniel%20gilbert%20pursuit%20of%20happiness&f=false) [defines happiness](http://www.ted.com/talks/dan%5Fgilbert%5Fasks%5Fwhy%5Fare%5Fwe%5Fhappy?language=en) as frequent positive feelings accompanied by an overall sense that one’s life has meaning. Psychology research has shown a strong link between happiness and success in the workplace. For example, [Gilbert and colleagues](https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2U-HbwwjR24C&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=daniel+gilbert+pursuit+of+happiness&ots=9UhBfIqehv&sig=obxDI7vIxLgvUy6eiyIQ1vPnKxQ#v=onepage&q=daniel%20gilbert%20pursuit%20of%20happiness&f=false) have shown that happier employees tend to perform better, earn more money and be more helpful to their coworkers. Education [researchers](http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.co-case.org/resource/resmgr/imported/WP%5FHappiness%20and%20Academic%20Achievement.pdf) are only beginning to explore the relationship between happiness and school achievement. Researchers at [Research Schools International](http://sites.gse.harvard.edu/research-schools-international) partnered with administrators, teachers, and students at [St Andrew’s Episcopal School](http://www.saes.org/page) and The Center for Transformative Teaching & Learning to study happiness and academic achievement. Results revealed a significant correlation between happiness and academic success. Moreover, we found that relationships are fundamental to students’ happiness. **The impact of happy thoughts** We collected data on happiness and grades from 94% of the student body (435 students) at St Andrew’s, including elementary, middle and upper school students. We developed developmentally appropriate surveys to measure students’ happiness with feedback from teachers and students at the school. We also worked with administrators and teachers at the school to collect data on students’ GPAs. Our results revealed that, on average, students who reported being happier had higher grades. Specifically, we found a statistically significant correlation between happiness and students’ GPA from elementary school through high school. Students often reported that happiness, or positive feelings like enjoyment or fun, supported their schoolwork. One student shared, “In school I feel happy and accepted, which allows for a fun and free learning experience.” Yet another explained, “I always feel pushed to do my best when I have a project that I find to be really interesting and fun.” One student summed it up, “I only do good work when I think happy thoughts.” **Relationships are fundamental to happiness** Our next question was, what supports students to be happy? We found that a network of supportive relationships is at the heart of happiness. Results showed that the quality of students’ relationships with teachers and peers predicted their happiness. Across all ages, students with positive relationships were more likely to be happy. Although voiced in different ways, time and again students of all ages emphasized that their relationships are fundamental to their happiness. As one student shared, “In school I feel happy. I think I feel this way because I’m surrounded by my friends, and around teachers that are very nice and caring.” Another student echoed this sentiment, “I feel happy because I feel like I am surrounded by a great group of friends and teachers.” Yet another expressed, “I feel happy while I am in school. I feel this way because I have my friends.” Another explained, “I am only happy in school when I feel that I have a group of good friends. Friends are what makes me very happy, energetic, and enjoy school.” These results suggest that there is an important relationship between happiness and academic achievement. While more research is needed to explore the relationships among happiness, social networks, and achievement in a school setting, the findings of this study are consistent with earlier ones in positive psychology. As positive psychologists Daniel Gilbert and Matthew Killingsworth [explain](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21071660): --- > “” --- We couldn’t agree more. _This_ [_article_](https://theconversation.com/its-true-happier-students-get-higher-grades-41488) _originally appeared on_ [_The Conversation_](http://theconversation.com) ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] It's way passed my bedtime but it's hard to sleep when I know the babysitter's treating herself to a late night helping of my Kraft Mac and Cheese. Remember the days of demanding Mac and Cheese, only eating pizza, insisting on hot dogs for dinner every single night? Our parents called us stubborn, but today's parents may have another thing to watch for when it comes to feeding picky eaters. According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics Young kids who show extreme aversion to some foods are more likely to develop anxiety disorders. In fact, children who were categorized as severe selective eaters were more than twice as likely to have depression or anxiety later in life. The study was conducted by researchers at Duke University Center for Eating Disorders, and involved more than 900 kids ages two to six. Parents recorded their children's eating habits, and researchers tested the kids for mood disorders. Researcher Nancy Zucker told the New York Times, I don't want to raise panic among parents. I'm hoping this research will make all of us realize that the story is more complicated than we appreciated. 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