The Assessment of Adolescents’ Well-Being Through a Capability Approach-Based Model: The Application of the MACaD-RCA Model in a Local Community of Northern Italy

Within the framework of an agreement with the Piedmont Regional Government, the Italian National Institute for the Analysis of Public Policies developed the Multidimensional Analysis of Capability Deprivation – Rights of Childhood and Adolescence (MACaD-RCA) model to examine the well-being of children and adolescents through a capabilities perspective grounded in rights. Applied during the 2023–2024 school year, the model involved 1,085 secondary school students (from high schools, technical institutes, and vocational schools) aged 14–18. This study advances the literature by combining a capabilities approach with an emphasis on rights and agency to explore young people’s own perceptions of their lives. The results highlight two critical issues: many students do not feel adequately recognised or heard at home or at school, and a considerable proportion report low self-esteem. By integrating these subjective dimensions within a multidimensional framework, the study provides evidence to support local policies and contributes to the broader discourse on assessing and promoting children’s rights and well-being.