Determinants of Subjective Well-Being in Adolescent Children of Recipients of the Oportunidades Human Development Program in Mexico

This study was conducted with adolescent children from a probabilistic sample with national representation from both rural and urban areas, in Mexican households eligible for services from the federal social program known as Oportunidades and characterized by conditions of extreme poverty. Participating were 1,093 youth of whom 61 % live in urban localities and 56 % are males, with an average age of 14.92 (±1.29) years and an average number of completed years of schooling of 8.33 (±1.71). The results indicated that the subjective well-being of these adolescents was dependent on a positive self-concept (self-esteem and strength), positive interactions with their parents (respectful, understanding and close) and with their friends (supportive), with importance placed on their studies, and the absence of emotional upset (stress or depression). Among the population studied, males and those younger, as well as those who only study, reported greater subjective well-being.