Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management (HRM) is the strategic discipline that focuses on managing people within organizations — attracting, developing, motivating, and retaining employees to achieve both individual fulfillment and organizational success. It combines psychology, business management, sociology, and law to align the human potential of an organization with its strategic goals.

What Actually Makes Young People in Mexico Feel Happy?

~ Manuel Castañón-Puga

You’re on the bus after class, scrolling WhatsApp, checking a meme on Instagram, and wondering if being “happier” is about more likes, more money, or just more sleep. Romero-Gómez and colleagues examined real data from Mexico to determine what matters most, using the national well-being survey. They found something simple yet powerful: most people report being fairly happy—an average of 8.45 out of 10, with about two-thirds falling within the 8–10 range. That’s a good baseline to start from and a reminder that many everyday lives already include plenty of reasons to feel okay.

According to Romero-Gómez et al., happiness isn’t one big thing; it’s a mix of your money and health situation, your mind, and your online connections. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram are an integral part of daily life for more than half of the people surveyed, while TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram are used less frequently in this sample. Picture a normal day: you swap voice notes with your family, share a quick update in a class group, and laugh at a short video. That small stream of connection helps—but it isn’t the main driver. In their model, social networks had a positive but modest link with happiness, while socioeconomic factors (how safe you feel, how you rate public services, your health, and the economy) did much more of the heavy lifting. Psychological strain, like stress, anxiety, or feeling down, pushed happiness in the opposite direction.

So, what’s useful day-to-day? First, care about the basics you can influence. If you’re juggling a part-time job and school, planning your budget, sleeping enough, and staying on top of a health check can pay off in how you feel. That aligns with the finding that better ratings of health, the economy, safety, and public services are associated with higher happiness. Safety and services are areas where many people feel less satisfied, which is important to consider when choosing a neighborhood, commute route, or campus service to use. Second, use your feeds like tools, not traps. A couple of chats that make you feel supported can help; doom-scrolling when you’re already anxious won’t. In the numbers, psychological factors had a clear negative impact, so noticing early signs—trouble concentrating, feeling nervous, and sadness that persists—and talking to someone is not just “mental health talk”; it’s practical happiness math.

Here’s the bottom line from Romero-Gómez and colleagues: start with the pillars, then add the polish. Socioeconomic factors show the strongest positive link with happiness; social networks add a small boost; psychological strain pulls it down. In their results, the model explained about a third of what makes people feel happier, which is a lot in real life. So yes, keep the group chat alive. Also, take that free clinic appointment, pick the safer bus stop, and set a bedtime you actually keep. Small moves add up. And if you’re having a rough stretch, that’s common, too—many people report stress or anxiety at least sometimes. Getting support is not a luxury; it’s one of the fastest ways to improve your mood this week.

Reference:
Romero-Gómez, D., Ahumada-Tello, E., Evans, R., & Castañón-Puga, M. (2024). Exploring the determinants of happiness in Mexico: The interplay of social networks, psychological well-being, and socioeconomic factors. Transactions on Energy Systems and Engineering Applications, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.32397/tesea.vol5.n2.636

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This blog provides simplified educational science content, created with the assistance of both humans and AI. It may omit technical details, is provided “as is,” and does not collect personal data beyond basic anonymous analytics. For full details, please see our Privacy Notice and Disclaimer. Read About This Blog & Attribution Note for AI-Generated Content to know more about this blog project.

AI at Work: Stress, Help, or Both?

~ Manuel Castañón-Puga

You land your first job and your manager asks you to try a new AI tool. Part of you is excited; part of you worries about mistakes, pressure, or privacy. Ahumada-Tello and colleagues looked at these everyday doubts using worker data from OECD countries to see how AI actually relates to happiness at work and to the choices people make on the job. They used survey data and factor analysis to study the links between AI use, decision-making, and well-being, finding patterns across hundreds of workers. 

According to the authors, the big picture is encouraging: AI, on average, does not lower happiness. It tends to support better and faster decisions, which can feel good when your to-do list is long. In the survey, most people agreed AI improves decisions and speeds them up, showing how tools can cut busywork so you focus on real problems. Picture an intern using AI to group customer messages so the team answers faster and with fewer errors—that is the kind of help many respondents reported. The study also organized AI at work into five practical areas: worries about AI, help with decisions, general use, managing AI teams, and working directly with AI systems. 

The authors dig into a surprising point: worries about AI—like job security, data, or losing control—did not automatically make people less happy. In fact, for some, noticing the risks pushed them to adapt, learn new skills, and feel more in control again. At the same time, the study highlights limits and conditions. Trust and transparency matter when algorithms are involved, and some jobs still need human empathy and flexibility that tools cannot replace. Imagine a chatbot helping with routine questions while a person handles sensitive cases; that mix fits what the researchers describe. 

So what should a young worker take from this? In this study, using AI, getting help from it in decisions, and integrating it into daily tasks were all linked with higher happiness at work. The drivers behind that lift are very down-to-earth: adaptability, efficiency, a sense of mastery, leadership opportunities, and clarity about what to do next. In simple terms, learn the tools, keep your human skills sharp, and ask for clear explanations when AI is used. That way you get the speed boost without losing yourself in the process.

Referencia:
Ahumada-Tello, E., Evans, R. D., Romero-Gómez, D., López-García, J., & Castañón-Puga, M. (2023). The impact of AI on the workplace: OECD AI surveys of employers and workers. 2023 IEEE Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things (GCAIoT), 121–126. https://doi.org/doi:10.1109/GCAIoT61060.2023.10385121.

Privacy Notice & Disclaimer:
This blog provides simplified educational science content, created with the assistance of both humans and AI. It may omit technical details, is provided “as is,” and does not collect personal data beyond basic anonymous analytics. For full details, please see our Privacy Notice and Disclaimer. Read About This Blog & Attribution Note for AI-Generated Content to know more about this blog project.