In Their Study of Happiness and Success During the First

In their study of happiness and success during the first year of college, Sheldon and Houser-Marko evaluated freshmen students' reasons for attending college according to the extent to which their reasons reflected external, introjected, identified, or intrinsic motivations. The results of their study suggested the potential for an upward spiral of well-being, because some students maintained or increased their well-being gains from the first to the second semester of college. What factor seemed to determine whether first semester well-being increases were lost, maintained, or increased in the second semester?

A) presence or absence of an optimistic attitude
B) amount and quality of social support
C) continued success in achieving personal goals
D) self-esteem and resilience