Psychological well-being and life satisfaction in Mexicans at early and mid-adolescence

Based on the Positive Development of Youth perspective, the aim of this study was to analyse the contribution of psychological well-being and its dimensions on life satisfaction in early and middle adolescence. Participants were 572 students, aged 13 to 18 years (M-age=15.39; SD=1.90), from public high and senior-high schools in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. The Adolescent and Family Sociodemographic Schedule, Psychological Wellbeing Scale, and Affective-Cognitive Life Evaluation Scale were administered. The adolescents studied showed values above the mean for both, psychological well-being and life satisfaction. Significant relationships between the dimensions of psychological well-being and life satisfaction were found. Self-acceptance and self-control predicted life satisfaction for both early and middle adolescents; however, positive relationships and life purpose, were predictors of life satisfaction for early adolescents, whereas future plans were a predictor for middle adolescents' life satisfaction. These findings could help in designing programs to promote well-being and life satisfaction according to adolescent developmental stages.