1.Huang, C.-Y., Hu, S.-H., & Fan, L.-Y. (n.d.). Relationship between demoralization of the college student with their individual- and social-oriented self. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0271030  

Background: This study dives into how college students are not depressed but demoralized. In the beginning the author shows us the distinction between being demoralized and depressed. The author also talks about different studies conducted on college students to see how they feel in school. They use a Individual- and Social-oriented Self scale (ISS) to gauge students mental health. The measurement of individual-oriented self (ISS-I) was including four factors comprising the following dimensions: independence; self-determination; competition; and consistency. In addition, the measurement of social-oriented self (ISS-S) included four factors comprising the following dimensions: contextual self; interpersonal relatedness; self-cultivation; and social sensitivity.

How I Intend to Use It: This article will help me use quantifiable data for my argument and it helps give tangible answers to an existential question. It lists and talks about the reasons that college students may feel demoralized, but it also mentions how college students are able to enjoy the present and find joy in it.

2. Ghahramani, S., Jahromi, A. T., Khoshsoroor, D., Seifooripour, R., & Sepehrpoor, M. (2019, March). The relationship between emotional intelligence and happiness in medical students. Korean journal of medical education. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6589629/  

Background: In this study, researchers looked at how emotions and happiness relate to us, the medical students. They found that if we have good emotional skills, we tend to be happier. This matches what other studies have seen. They also noticed that as we get older, we often feel less happy, but this can be different in various countries. The study showed that students who are more outgoing (extroverted) are usually happier. This might be because they have more social interactions. Additionally, if we have high emotional skills, we tend to feel healthier. This is important for our well-being as medical students. This study tells us that understanding and managing our emotions is linked to our happiness. It’s also good for our health. And, it’s suggested that shy students like me get more support to increase our happiness.

How I Intend to Use It: This study is useful because it shows that if you are emotionally intelligent you are able to overcome hardships and seemingly daunting tasks like med school. It helps prove that being able to cope with your emotions, gives you the ability to find happiness and content in the present.

3. Laird, K. T., Krause, B., Funes, C., & Lavretsky, H. (2019, February 14). Psychobiological factors of resilience and depression in Late life. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-019-0424-7 

Background: This study talks about the role resilience has in Late-life depression, the authors in the study go in depth about how resilience can help overcome depression that comes with older age 

How I Intend to Use It: This study is a valuable addition to my research, helping me reach various demographics. It explores how different groups find happiness through resilience. The perspective on the elderly using resilience to lead a depression-free life strengthens my argument. It demonstrates that resilience applies universally, transcending age and background. By considering diverse demographic perspectives, my research becomes more comprehensive and persuasive. Ultimately, this article reinforces the significance of resilience in leading a life free from depression across different groups.

4. Gilbert, D. (n.d.). The surprising science of happiness. Dan Gilbert: The surprising science of happiness | TED Talk. https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_the_surprising_science_of_happiness/transcript 

Background: Dan Gilbert’s TED Talk is about happiness. He says we often think big events will make us super happy or really sad, but that’s not always true. Our minds have a way to make us feel better even when things don’t go as planned. It’s like a built-in happiness system. He also talks about how we can make ourselves happy, even when things aren’t perfect. So, happiness isn’t just about what happens to us, but also how we think about it.

How I Intend to Use It: the TED Talk highlights that accepting and experiencing a range of emotions, including negative ones, is a more realistic and effective approach to well-being. It enables us to manage the ups and downs of life, adapt to changing circumstances, and create happiness from within. This contrasts with the idea of pursuing constant happiness, which may lead to unrealistic expectations and less resilience when faced with adversity.

5. What is happiness, anyway? | psychology Today. (n.d.). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202009/what-is-happiness-anyway  

Background: The author of the article helps define happiness. She says happiness means different things to different people. It’s about feeling good and having a sense of purpose. To be happy, you should feel personal joy and also care about others. Happiness comes from our brains, and we can make ourselves happier by changing how we think. People see happiness in different ways. It could be about family, nature, or being grateful. Happiness has different parts, like feeling grateful or understanding others. You can become happier by learning skills that work for you. Having a plan to be happier is a good idea, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Small steps can make you happier, and there are many ways to do it.

How I Intend to Use It: This article is useful because it helps give a basic definition of what happiness is to us. It will be really helpful when it comes time to write my paper because I can refer to it to make sure the definition of happiness I am discussing is not lost throughout the paper.

6. 05, J., | by Corey Binns, Binns, C., Berg, J. M., Wrzesniewski, A., Grant, A. M., Kurkoski, J., & Welle, B. (2022, July 5). Take this job and love it: How a growth mindset can boost happiness at work. Stanford Graduate School of Business. https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/take-job-love-it-how-growth-mindset-can-boost-happiness-work 

Background: Corey Binns’ article delves into the research by Justin Berg, an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business, focusing on the pursuit of workplace happiness through a dual-growth mindset. Berg and his coauthors, building on psychologist Carol Dweck’s ideas, emphasize the need for flexibility in both personal growth and job-related tasks.

The study involved career development workshops, with participants focusing on a growth mindset for themselves, job flexibility, or both. Those adopting a dual-growth mindset experienced a significant and lasting increase in workplace happiness, challenging the conventional hedonic treadmill theory.

The article suggests that, amid the Great Resignation and changing work environments, adopting a dual-growth mindset may be timely for individuals seeking lasting happiness. However, it highlights the effort and timing required for such interventions, cautioning that it’s not a simple or inexpensive solution for enhancing workplace well-being. The research underscores the potential power of intentional efforts to foster sustained happiness by considering both personal and professional adaptability.

How I Intend to Use It: This article is a good starting point for finding a targeted group to focus on for my paper. I intend to focus on the workspace and more specifically executives

7. Everett, C. (2023a, May 2). Why CEOS’ mental health is business-critical. Raconteur. https://www.raconteur.net/leadership/ceo-mental-health#:~:text=A%20survey%20by%20Deloitte%20last,to%20reset%20their%20

Background: Cath Everett’s article explores the escalating mental health challenges faced by CEOs and their significant implications for business culture. The prevalence of mental health struggles among top U.S. executives has risen to 31% in 2022 from 12% in 2018. The article attributes this trend to the growing demands on CEOs to navigate crises and manage daily business challenges, exacerbated by post-COVID workplace changes, geopolitical shifts, and economic factors.

Beyond individual well-being, poor CEO mental health negatively impacts company culture, leading to shorter fuses, impaired focus, risk aversion, and erratic decision-making. This creates a fear-based culture where employees feel undervalued, fostering unhealthy dynamics within the organization.

The article underscores the need for CEOs to manage their mental well-being, emphasizing the role of leaders in setting a positive example for workplace behavior. Successful CEOs share their experiences, highlighting the profound influence leaders have on employees. The article recommends prioritizing emotional resilience as a crucial, often overlooked aspect of CEO well-being.

How I Used It: I utilized the portion of the article where Everett is talking about her interview with Ella McCrystal. It was used to help highlight how endless pursuit of success eventually leads to burnout.

8. Kermott, C. A., Johnson, R. E., Sood, R., Jenkins, S. M., & Sood, A. (n.d.). Is higher resilience predictive of Lower Stress and better mental health among corporate executives?. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0218092 

Background: Cindy A. Kermott conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the impact of resilience on well-being, self-reported stress, and mental health diagnoses among corporate executives. The study included 1,954 participants from an executive health practice at Mayo Clinic. Participants were categorized into lower, medium, or higher resilience based on the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Results showed that higher resilience was positively associated with well-being and negatively associated with perceived stress. Participants with lower resilience had a 4-fold higher prevalence of depression and almost a 3-fold higher prevalence of anxiety compared to those with higher resilience. The study suggests that higher resilience in the executive workplace is linked to better mental health, reduced stress, and greater well-being.

How I Used It: Kermott’s study of how resilience plays a role in the mental health of corporate executives helps support my ideas in my argument. It also plays a major role in providing tangible evidence for my target group.

9. Dryburgh, A. (2015, June 29). The curse of success?. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alastairdryburgh/2015/06/29/the-curse-of-success/?sh=5bf044695a4c

Background: Alastair Dryburgh advises individuals and businesses to reflect on what has made them successful, make it conscious, and then stop doing most of it. The challenge is recognizing that what led to past success may hinder future success. For example, problem-solving skills that propel someone up the management hierarchy can become obstacles as they need to focus on building systems and coaching others. The key is understanding the concept of identity—when success behaviors become part of “who I am.” Detaching what you do from who you are is crucial for growth. Dryburgh shares his own experience of a challenging first 20 years of work, highlighting that a difficult Act One can be a valuable gift, providing experience without ingrained habits of past success.

How I Used It: Alastair Dryburgh implores his readers to be more mindful and it coincides with my point that we must detach what we do from who we are, allowing for flexibility and adaptation.

10. Ong, A. D., Mroczek, D. K., & Riffin, C. (2011, August 1). The health significance of positive emotions in adulthood and later life. Social and personality psychology compass. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3173764/

Background: This study, conducted by Anthony D. Ong and his peers, explores the relationship between positive emotions and health in older adults. The research reviews evidence on the effects of positive emotions on biological processes and clinical outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality. It delves into the divergent trajectories of emotions in the second half of life, where negative emotions decline with age, while positive emotions remain relatively stable. The focus is on positive emotions like joy and contentment, examining their impact on health through pathways such as health behaviors, physiological systems, stressor exposure, stress undoing, stress reactivity, and recovery.

The study emphasizes the association between positive emotions and enhanced physical health, covering self-reported health, physical functioning, disease severity, and mortality. It discusses potential pathways through which positive emotions contribute to adult health outcomes, including health behaviors, physiological systems, stressor exposure, and stress undoing. The research highlights the role of positive emotions in influencing sleep patterns, reducing stressor exposure, and altering physiological systems such as cortisol levels and immune function.

Furthermore, the study explores the stress-buffering effect of positive emotions, indicating that they may ameliorate the adverse effects of stress on health. The authors discuss age differences in emotional well-being, referencing socioemotional selectivity theory and dynamic integration theory, which suggest changes in understanding and motivation as key factors in maintaining positive emotions in old age.

Overall, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the connection between positive emotions and health in older adults, incorporating theoretical mechanisms and evidence to support the associations observed.

How I Used It: Ong and his peers’ research into the impact of positive emotions on our emotional pathways is strong evidence to fight the counter claim for my essay. It can be used to support the idea that positive emotions have a positive effect on our emotional paths. It shows how being mindful along the way allows individuals to find happiness in the small victories and positive experiences. 

11. Sheldon, K. M., Abad, N., Ferguson, Y., Gunz, A., Houser-Marko, L., Nichols, C. P., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009, December 8). Persistent pursuit of need-satisfying goals leads to increased happiness: A 6-month Experimental Longitudinal Study – motivation and emotion. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-009-9153-1 

Background: In a 6-month experimental longitudinal study titled “Persistent pursuit of need-satisfying goals leads to increased happiness,” 181 university-based community members were involved in an initiative to elevate their happiness levels. Through random assignment, participants were instructed to set goals either for enhancing their life circumstances (comparison condition) or fostering feelings of autonomy, competence, or relatedness (treatment conditions). The study, aligned with the sustainable happiness model proposed by Sheldon and colleagues, anticipated that enduring happiness gains would manifest exclusively in the treatment conditions and would be contingent on continuous goal engagement. Results corroborated these expectations, highlighting the significance of persistent pursuit of need-satisfying goals in sustaining increased happiness over time. Additionally, participants with an initially positive attitude towards happiness change reaped greater benefits. The findings emphasize the importance of both the intent and an effective approach in achieving and maintaining heightened levels of happiness, echoing the sentiments of Sheldon et al.’s research.

How I Used It: The authors’ conclusions align with the notion that “becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way.” While the study emphasizes the benefits of persistent pursuit of goals, it overlooks potential downsides. Using goal setting as a tool for happiness might inadvertently contribute to a cycle of chasing achievements for fleeting moments of joy. Over time, this relentless pursuit may lead to burnout as individuals become singularly focused on tasks, potentially sacrificing their well-being in the process. This study provides strong evidence that can be used in my rebuttal argument