Abstract
Objective: Based on a three-factor model of subjective wellbeing (evaluative, hedonic and eudemonic), the purpose of this study was to analyze gender differences in children and adolescents through three different subjective wellbeing indicators. Method: The sample comprised 1.407 children and adolescents from Cadiz and Madrid (Spain), in the framework of the UP&DOWN study. Life satisfaction was measured with the subjective happiness scale, positive and negative affect were measured with the positive and negative affect schedule, and purpose in life was assessed with the children’s hope scale. Results: Linear regression models indicate the existence of significant gender differences only in adolescents, with higher scores among girls in positive affect (p = 0.016) and negative affect (p < 0.001) but with lower scores in purpose in life (p = 0.024). Conclusions: These results highlight the role of gender as an important factor in explaining differences in subjective wellbeing. Additionally, results indicate that gender differences in subjective wellbeing are observed in adolescents, but not in children, suggesting that the gender gap in subjective wellbeing begins at the age of 12. Mental health practitioners should pay attention to these findings in order to implement screening methods and interventions focused on these needs.
Highlights
For many centuries, scientists have focused their efforts on analyzing the components of wellbeing.Theorists from different disciplines have suggested a variety of factors as important elements of wellbeing [1]
The aim of this study was to analyze gender differences in subjective wellbeing among Spanish children and adolescents using a three component model including life satisfaction, positive and negative affect and purpose in life
The results are in line with previous findings, highlighting the existence of gender differences in subjective wellbeing in adolescents [28,29,30,31,32,33,34]
Summary
Scientists have focused their efforts on analyzing the components of wellbeing. Three different components of subjective wellbeing should be distinguished: global life satisfaction (evaluative wellbeing), sense of meaning and purpose of life (eudemonic wellbeing) and levels of positive and negative affect that people experience in their everyday lives (hedonic wellbeing) [4,5,6,7,8,9]. The hedonic wellbeing approach defines wellbeing in terms of pleasure and pain [12], considering feelings such as happiness, sadness, anger, stress and pain It is commonly measured by analyzing positive and negative experiences in people’s daily lives with experience sampling methodologies (ESM) or similar methods based on diary techniques to appraise subjective experiences in daily life such as the day reconstruction method [6,16,17,18]. The purpose of the present study is to analyze gender differences in subjective wellbeing in Spanish children and adolescents by exploring three different components: life satisfaction, positive and negative affect and purpose in life
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