Abstract

Purpose: Supports and stressors across different ecological systems affect adolescents’ perceptions of psychological well-being. The purpose of this study is to analyze how social support, school experiences, and socio-economic factors relate to psychological well-being among adolescents. Furthermore, our study explores how family income shapes the relationship between social supports and well-being.

Method: Multilevel linear regression models were applied to a sample of 19,767 middle and high school students, with students serving as Level 1 and schools as Level 2.

Results: Students reporting more support from parents, friends, teachers, and neighbors and better school engagement perceive better psychological well-being. Furthermore, family income moderates the relationship between teacher support and adolescents’ psychological well-being. Implications for social work practice are discussed.

Conclusion: Social support plays an important role in promoting adolescents’ psychological well-being. Teacher support is associated with better psychological well-being for all students, and this relationship is strongest for students from higher income families.

Keywords: adolescents, psychological well-being, social support, school engagement

How to Cite:

Guo, Y., Hopson, L. M. & Yang, F., (2018) “Socio-ecological Factors Associated with Adolescents’ Psychological Well-being: A multilevel analysis”, International Journal of School Social Work 3(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2161-4148.1032