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

Abstract

This study examined children’s subjective well-being in a rural Midwestern United States sample of children (N = 1,286). Fifth grade (Mage = 10.66, SD = .55, range 10–12 years) and 7th grade (Mage = 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.