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Predictors of Children’s Subjective Well-Being in Rural Communities of the United States

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Abstract

This study examined children’s subjective well-being in a rural Midwestern United States sample of children (N = 1,286). Fifth grade (M age = 10.66, SD = .55, range 10–12 years) and 7th grade (M age = 12.63, SD = .55, range 12–14 years) children completed an adapted version of the previously tested Children’s Worlds survey, measuring children’s subjective well-being. Surveys included individual factors (age, gender, number of residences), contextual factors of home and family (home environment, family relationships, parent involvement), life and neighborhood (financial resources, life stress, neighborhood quality), school (teacher relationships, school climate, school satisfaction), and peers (peer relationships), and subjective well-being measures for life satisfaction, mental health, and self-image. Though children’s subjective well-being was predicted by a number of individual, home and family, life and neighborhood, school, and peer variables, the strongest predictors of child well-being were relationships, school, and gender (males had higher scores). The reliability of the regression models were assessed by bootstrap resampling. Results are discussed in the context of an ecological, relationship-based framework of child well-being.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge contributions to the research project from Rick Melmer, Rita Humphrey, and Tamara Olson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development and Educational Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA

    Lisa A. Newland

  2. School of Health Sciences, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA

    Michael J. Lawler

  3. Social Work, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA

    Jarod T. Giger & Soonhee Roh

  4. Human Development and Educational Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, USA

    Eliann R. Carr

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  1. Lisa A. Newland
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  2. Michael J. Lawler
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  3. Jarod T. Giger
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  4. Soonhee Roh
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  5. Eliann R. Carr
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Correspondence to Michael J. Lawler.

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Newland, L.A., Lawler, M.J., Giger, J.T. et al. Predictors of Children’s Subjective Well-Being in Rural Communities of the United States. Child Ind Res 8, 177–198 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-014-9287-x

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