The developmental trajectories and modifiable factors of adolescents' subjective well-being from late adolescence to early adulthood

BackgroundPrevious research on adolescents' subjective well-being has not focused on the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood. Moreover, explorations of the factors influencing adolescents' subjective well-being have mostly focused on a single level or variable. This study aimed to identify the different developmental trajectories of adolescents' subjective well-being during this transition period and the influencing factors at different levels.MethodsThis study used data from the Chinese Family Panel Studies to longitudinally track 625 adolescents aged 16-19 years in 2014 for six years. This study adopted multi-party reports and collected data on four levels of adolescents: individuals, networks, families, and communities. Using the latent class growth model to distinguish the different developmental trajectories of adolescents' subjective well-being. Then, the environment-wide association study (EnWAS) was used to explore the factors influencing the categories of adolescents' subjective well-being trajectories.ResultsThis study identified three different developmental trajectories of subjective well-being: High initial level-relatively stable group, Medium initial level-rapidly decreasing group, Low initial level-slowly rising group. The results of EnWAS confirmed that there are 15 modifiable factors associated with the trajectory classification of adolescents' subjective well-being. The final multiple logistic regression model revealed the household book collection, tidiness of the home, desired level of education, future confidence, interpersonal relationships, social trust, sleep duration (marginal condition), all of which have significant impacts on adolescents' subjective well-being.ConclusionsAdolescents' subjective well-being trajectories from late adolescence to early adulthood show great heterogeneity. Adolescents' subjective well-being may be more influenced by the personal and family environment. Targeted interventions for various modifiable factors can significantly enhance adolescents' subjective well-being.