The Pursuit of Happiness: Briefly on Positive Mental Health, Well-Being, Trauma, and Resilience

Ihor Hoian; Dmytro  Tovmash; Tetiana  Danylova; Olena  Ishchenko; Antonina  Yaruchyk; Oksana  Fedyk; Andrii   Petraniuk; Nataliia Kostruba

doi:10.56508/mhgcj.v9i1.358

Authors

Ihor Hoian Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2548-0488
Dmytro Tovmash Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4576-0703
Tetiana Danylova Institute for Social and Political Psychology, National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0297-9473
Olena Ishchenko Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3832-2403
Antonina Yaruchyk Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1293-0005
Oksana Fedyk Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9029-2611
Andrii Petraniuk Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5009-4795
Nataliia Kostruba Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Lutsk, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-4729

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v9i1.358

Keywords:

Mental Health, Happiness, Subjective Well-Being, Experience of Happiness, Positive Mental Health, Psychological Well-Being, Eudaimonia, Resilience, Quality of Life, Traumatic Experience, Cultural Trauma, Sociocultural Factors, Culture

Abstract

Introduction: Despite centuries of attempts to clearly define what human happiness is and how to achieve it, no one has completely succeeded in defining happiness or showing the only one way to achieve it. But still, the pursuit of happiness as an unalienable right of human beings who have been striving for it for eons remains a relevant topic for everyone, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health specialists. Nowadays, great importance is placed on the positive aspects of mental health, active functioning in the world, and overall well-being.

Purpose: Integrating psychological and philosophical perspectives, this paper aims to explore the phenomenon of happiness as a core component of mental health and well-being.

Methodology: The authors conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, using search terms: happiness; subjective well-being; experience of happiness; mental health; psychological well-being; eudaimonia; resilience; quality of life; traumatic experience; cultural trauma; sociocultural factors; culture. The authors used phenomenological philosophical, hermeneutic and inductive approaches, as well as the interpretive research paradigm.

Results: The attention of contemporary researchers is focused on the place and role of happiness in mental health and well-being. Though ideas on happiness present a whole range of options, two main directions can still be identified, namely, eudaemonism and hedonism, in which happiness has been used to describe both momentary assessments of affect and life evaluations. Contemporary researchers have developed several approaches to well-being mainly emphasizing its eudaimonic character.

Conclusion: The dramatic shift in approaches to mental health and well-being with an emphasis on positivity has expanded understanding of factors and conditions that promote or undermine our mental health and well-being. Such an understanding should lead to the creation of conditions for individual flourishing, social prosperity and overall well-being offering innovative solutions to complex individual, organizational, and societal problems

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