A Comparative Study on Well-Being and Gratitude including Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties among Early and Middle Adolescents Living in Residential Care

The main focus of research in past decades was to understand the behavioral and emotional issues faced by adolescents raised in residential care homes. However, there exist only a few studies which focus on comparing the overall well-being of different adolescent categories. Also, there exist only a few studies that try to understand the gratitude of adolescents raised in residential care homes. The study aimed to compare well-being, gratitude and behavioral and emotional difficulties of early and middle adolescents living in residential care homes as well as to understand their subjective experiences of well-being. Methodology: The sample comprised of 60 adolescents and the questionnaires Adolescent Well-Being Scale (AWBS), Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ -6) and parent/caregiver report version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to study and compare well-being, gratitude and behavioral and emotional difficulties among early and middle adolescents. An in-depth interview with selected participants was also conducted to understand their subjective experiences of well-being. Results: There existed no statistically significant difference in well-being, gratitude and behavioral and emotional difficulties between early and middle adolescents. The in-depth interview revealed various reasons that contributed to the adolescents' admission to residential care homes, factors leading to their positive and negative emotional experiences and the adolescents' experience of personal growth. Conclusion: Both early and middle adolescents were same on well-being, gratitude and behavioral and emotional difficulties, and the adolescents' life at residential care homes had both positive and negative impact on their well-being.