Mapping Adolescent Well-Being: A Network Analysis of Subjective and Psychological Well-being in Ecuador
Journal
International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
Date Issued
2026-07-24
Author(s)
Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo
Salinas-Palma, Alexandra
Rodas, Jose A.
Jara-Rizzo, Maria F.
Espinosa-Díaz, Nancy
Type
Article
Abstract
The objective is to identify the relationship between Subjective Well-being (SWB) and Psychological Well-being (PWB) in a sample of Ecuadorian adolescents, as well as to explore gender differences using a psychological network approach. A descriptive, relational, cross-sectional study employing psychological network analysis was conducted. A total of 567 adolescents participated, 57.1% were girls and 42.9% boys, aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 15.87, SD = 1.31). These adolescents were enrolled in 15 educational institutions across three provinces of Ecuador. The results show that SWB and PWB form a stable network with bridge nodes connecting the two theoretical communities, indicating co-occurrence, particularly through nodes associated with the cognitive component of SWB and mediated by affect. Gender-based comparisons revealed no significant differences between boys and girls, indicating an absence of differences in the network. It is concluded that the BS-BP network reveals specific mechanisms through which these components connect and their importance within the theoretical model of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.