Individual and family factors and adolescent well-being: A multi-level analysis

What are the effects on adolescent well-being of positive and negative experiences in both the vocational and relationship careers of youngsters and their parents? Data from the Dutch national panel study Utrecht Study of Adolescent Development (USAD) were used; this is a study of developmental processes as they occur in the life course of young people during the 1990s. A quarter of the total variance of the variable adolescent well-being is found at family level. Individual vocational and relationship factors appear to have significant long-term effects on adolescent well-being. The same holds true for relationship problems in the family, especially for girls. Vocational family factors and parents’ personal characteristics are not important as predictors of adolescent well-being.