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What Leads Subjective Well-Being to Change Throughout Adolescence? An Exploration of Potential Factors

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Abstract

This article presents the results of a one-year follow-up study on a sample of 940 adolescents, in which participants have been classified according to the changes they have experienced in their subjective well-being (SWB), measured by means of two different single-item scales (overall life satisfaction –OLS– and happiness overall –HOL). A range of multinomial logistic regression models were employed to determine which factors lead to such differences. Results show that when OLS is considered, the factor most contributing to an increase in SWB is family self-concept, while the one most contributing to its decrease is satisfaction with the family. When HOL is taken as the dependent variable, the most important factor in predicting an increase in SWB is being valued in the future according to the amount of money I have, with life optimism being the most important factor in predicting its decrease. Only three indicators (the importance of being valued in the future according to the amount of money I have, feeling happy at home and satisfaction with myself) contribute to explaining both boys’ and girls’ models when OLS is taken as the dependent variable, while only one indicator (satisfaction with standard of living) is shared in both boys’ and girls’ models when HOL is the dependent variable. The resulting implications for adolescent SWB are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This article is based on data collected in the research project with reference number PSI2010-19404 and PSI2013-41512-P, founded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO). Particular thanks are due to Barney Griffiths for editing English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education and Psychology, Quality of Life Research Institute, University of Girona, Pl. St. Domènec, 9, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Mònica González-Carrasco, Ferran Casas, Ferran Viñas, Sara Malo & M. Eugènia Gras

  2. Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Su, Rio Grande do Su, Brazil

    Lívia Bedin

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  1. Mònica González-Carrasco
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  2. Ferran Casas
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  3. Ferran Viñas
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Correspondence to Mònica González-Carrasco.

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González-Carrasco, M., Casas, F., Viñas, F. et al. What Leads Subjective Well-Being to Change Throughout Adolescence? An Exploration of Potential Factors. Child Ind Res 10, 33–56 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-015-9359-6

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