Happier in Law School: The Research
Recent research again examined the mental health, happiness, and well-being of law students. The news is not good, but we've known that for many years. Research conducted in 2012, in Australia, examined whether a relationship might exists between emotional intelligence (EI) and better psychological health among law students. Prior research had reported high rates of depression among law students. "They experience a significant deterioration in their mental health status during law school . . . . [that] may begin in the first year of study." The research, using self-assessment tools of three types, indicated that students with higher EI were: Less likely to suffer psychiatric symptoms, Less likely to use alcohol, More likely to be satisfied with life. The so-called " "Big Five" personality factors of agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, and neuroticism had a stronger link to psychological health.