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Paige Hunter

Mr. Fisher

English IV

8 February 2019

Annotated Bibliography

Although often overlooked, the elements of one’s surroundings have the capability to to impact

mental health and mood in significant ways.

​ ederal Information & News Dispatch, Inc,

Berman, Jessica. ​Study: Light Color Affects Mood. F

Washington, 2013​. elibrary​,

https://explore.proquest.com/elibrary/document/1418743401?accountid=182976.

Jessica Berman, a writer for VOA news, summarizes a study done on hamsters that

proves that certain types of light can contribute to clinical depression when exposed late at night.

They experimented with three colors of light: white, red, and blue. The hamsters that slept under

the glow of blue or white light showed signs of depression while those that slept under red light

or in darkness showed no signs of depression. Light affects mood because the retina contains

photosensitive cells that transmit signals to the brain which affect one’s circadian rhythm. Thus,

high exposure to blue and white light can lead to a depressed phenotype and an unnatural sleep

cycle.

This article was published in 2013, but it is still relevant because the information found in

the study remains true as time goes on. The study was conducted by the Ohio State University’s

Department of Neuroscience which makes the conclusions credible. I was unable to find any
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information on the author, but she does write for Voice of America, which is a government

funded new outlet. Additionally, this article was published on eLibrary which adds to its

credibility.

This article supports my thesis because I read earlier that light can affect one’s mood and

mental health, but I was unaware as to how this was done. This article explains how light affects

the brain and the effects of differents types of light. Thus, I now know that exposure to red light

around bedtime and during the night is healthier than other colors.

Patzer, Maureen. "A Home's True Colors can Affect Your Mood."​ The Tennessean,​ 02 Nov

2008​. elibrary,​

https://explore.proquest.com/elibrary/document/239931634?accountid=182976.

In this article, Maureen Patzer describes how color has the power to influence one’s

mental health and mood. However, the way in which a person is affected by certain colors is

dependant on many factors: age, personality, etc. For example, a child will like a color just

because it’s their favorite, not necessarily because of the psychological effects it entails. Teens

are usually more drawn to bold patterns instead of the colors themselves. While colors have

general psychological connotations, this is dependant on the tint, shade, vibrance, and proportion

to other colors in the room. Additionally, one should be careful in choosing colors for their home

based off of personality. For example, blue may not be the best option for someone who often

feels sad. Also, the way a color affects someone can be based off of personal circumstances. If

someone’s workplace is painted blue, that color could carry a negative connotation in other

places.
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The Tennessean​ is recognized as a credible source even though it is a smaller news outlet.

Maureen Patzer, the author, writes multiple articles about home and design so she has knowledge

in the area. Additionally, this article was published on eLibrary which adds to the credibility of

this piece of writing.

This ties into my thesis because it takes my claim that elements of design affect mood a

step further by explaining that the way in which these elements of design affect mood depend on

more factors than the element itself. Yes, blue usually is a peaceful and calming color for most

people but not for all. It is important to consider age, culture, personality, and other personal life

circumstances that affect memory and psychology.

“What Impact Does the Environment Have on Us?” ​Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing,​

www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/healing-environment/what-

impact-does-environment-have-us.

This article by the University of Minnesota summarizes how one’s surroundings affect a

person in three main ways: facilitate or discourage social interaction, impact behavior and

motivation, and change mood. Additionally, there are specific things a person wants in their

surroundings: a sense of safety and security, physical comfort, and psychological comfort.

These elements of safety, comfort, and entertainment are often very evident in hotels and

hospitals. One’s environment also impacts one’s stress levels which have a significant impact on

health. Stress affects one’s biochemistry which can affect one’s blood pressure, heart rate, and

muscle tension. Another way to reduce stress is by providing choices and increasing a patient’s
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agency. Disorientation and a controlling schedule can dampen moods and in hospitals, lengthen

the healing process.

This information was found on the University of Minnesota website which is known as a

credible source. The url also ends in .edu, which is one of the more selective domains. Mary Jo

Kreitzer, RN, PhD, and Director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, wrote

this article and judging by her accomplishments, she is very knowledgeable in this area. While

this information is a few years old, from 2016, it is still relevant today.

This information not only supports my thesis but it took my research a step farther by

describing how this information is applied in hospitals and hotels and Kreitzer explained the

main elements a person looks for in a positive environment, which was new to my research.

Additionally, I would like to further explore how stress affects the body because one’s

environment has a significant impact on a person in this indirect way.

Lawson, Karen. “Why It's Important to Master Stress.” ​Taking Charge of Your Health &

Wellbeing​, www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/health/stress-

mastery/why-it-s-important-master-stress.

Karen Lawson explains that stress affects a person in three areas: health,

social/relationships, and performance. Prolonged strain and stress can result in cardiovascular

disease, digestive disorders, accelerated aging, and a weakened immune functioning. In

relationships, stress has been shown to cause people to take their anger out on others and exhibit

anger, irritation, and frustration when interacting with others. Additionally, this behavior can

lead to communication and trust issues which causes even more stress. While a small amount of
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stress can be healthy as it is a motivator to get things done, too much stress can lead to decreased

efficiency at work and procrastination. Chronic stress can lead to a burnout.

This information was published on the University of Minnesota website which gives it

credibility. Additionally, the author, Karen Lawson, has her MD and is very knowledgeable on

the subject. The article was also reviewed my many of her colleagues, all of whom have their

MD or PhD. Throughout the article, Lawson cites multiple prestigious sources and studies,

adding to the overall credibility of the article.

This information is relevant to my thesis because certain elements of one’s surroundings,

such as noise, can significantly impact stress levels. This article explains how increased stress

levels affect a person in many ways. Previously, I explored the direct ways one’s environment

affects one’s health and mood, but this is one of the many indirect ways in which one’s

surroundings can make an impact.