Abstract :
The present study investigates how the changing
socioeconomic conditions in Russia and Ukraine affect the
psychological well-being of high-school adolescents in
these countries. Six indexes of psychological well-being,
the adolescents’ perception of the economic conditions in
their families, perceived parental practices (care and
autonomy providing), and perceived social support were
measured in 1999 and 2007. Macro-level socioeconomic
conditions in Russia and Ukraine, as well as the adolescents’
perception of the economic conditions in their
family, substantially improved from 1999 to 2007. However,
the psychological well-being of the adolescents, as
well as their perception of parental practices and the social
support received from parents, peers, and teachers did not
change. Russian adolescents consistently reported higher
self-esteem and school competence than their Ukrainian
peers, as well as higher parental care and autonomy providing,
and higher social support received from peers. At
the individual level, perceived parental care and autonomy
providing, as well as perceived social support from
parents, peers, and teachers were the major contributors
to the adolescents’ psychological well-being. The obtained
results are discussed in light of the conservation of
resources and ecological systems theories
