Factors related to well-being in Irish adolescents

294 Irish adolescents were profiled after being classified as having high, moderate or low subjective well - being on the basis of their scores on the Oxford Happiness Inventory, the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the General Hea lth Questionnaire – 12. Compared with the low well - being group, the high well - being group reported fewer family and personal stressful life events, more task - focused and less emotion - focused coping. They had greater personal strengths (adaptive problem - solv ing, self - esteem, and optimistic attributional style) and greater social resources (perceived social support and adaptive family functioning). The profile of the moderate well - being group fell between that of the high and low well - being groups. Gender di fferences favouring girls were found for optimism, perceived social support and family functioning. A structural equation model which explained the relationship among the variables in these profiles was developed in which increased personal strengths were associated with better subjective well - being and fewer stressful life events; and increased social resources were associated with better task - focused coping.