Abstract

Assuming a multidimensional (Keyes, 1998, 2005; Cicognani, 2005), ecological and interac­tionist perspective (Petrillo, 2008a, 2008b), this work proposes to consider in an original way both psychological and contextual elements as possible promoters of social wellbeing in adolescence. To this aim was used a questionnaire, with which were collected data on the social wellbeing, collective efficacy in the school ambit, strategies of coping, health habits referred to some behavioural spheres (alimentation, alcohol and tobacco consume, physical exercise and sexuality) and life context (understood as living in the centre or periphery of a town or yet in the coastal or inland areas of the province). This instrument were administered to 1.107 students of high schools. Multiple regression analysis allowed to verify which of the used variables had the role of predictors of social wellbeing in ado­lescence. The results show the role of both psychological factors and socio-structural va­riables. In particular the collective school efficacy, the situational and evasiveness coping act positively on the social wellbeing, while the coping based on the emotions and to live in the center or periphery of town act negatively. Furthermore significant differences for gender, age, and school emerge.