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Most studies with children in out-of-home care highlight the problems and challenges associated with residential or foster care, and few have investigated the well-being of these children. The aim of this study is to compare the subjective well-being (SWB) of children hosted in institutions and in foster families with the well-being of children living with their families. We used a sample of 422 children, aged between 11 and 15, being 39 in foster care, 145 in residential care, and 238 living with their families in the general population. We measured SWB with the Personal Well-being Index-School Children (PWI-SC9) and we evaluated the impact of several variables in this index. Results indicate that children in residential care have a lower SWB in all variables compared to foster care and general populations groups. These outcomes should challenge children's public policies to change from a dominant positive attitude toward institutionalisation to a more successful approach based on foster care families. This approach will provide the opportunity for children in out-of-home care to grow up in a family, and improve their SWB, which can probably ensure a better life trajectory. Keywords: Children . Subjective well-being . Families . Foster care . Residential care 1 The Children's Subjective Well-BeingIt is possible to distinguish between three approaches to well-being (Parfit 1984). The first is based on objective lists of things that others think we need to achieve a good life.

Background Recent international research has warned of the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on vulnerable children. However, little is known regarding the in-care population. Objective To find out how children in residential care perceived the influence of the COVID-19 lockdown in their everyday life, relationships and subjective well-being. Participants and setting 856 children from 10 to 17 years old (M age = 15.5, males = 71.2%, females = 28.8%) living in residential centres in Catalonia. Methods Cross-sectional study. Children responded to an on-line questionnaire administered between June and July 2020. Bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used comparing the answers by sex. Results Better relationships with caregivers (β = 9.156, [4.089–14.22], r 2 = 0.244, p < .01) and having a person of trust (ß = 4.588, [2.041–7.134], r 2 = 0.244, p < .01) were found to be relevant for children's subjective well-being. For girls, improving their grades (β = 14.86, [8.560–21.15], r 2 = 0.234, p < .01) were relevant while boys' subjective well-being was significantly affected by an increase in use of social networks (β = 8.917, [2.733–15.10], r 2 = 0.234, p < .01). Conclusions A gender perspective is needed to help girls in situations of vulnerability. We should continue to listen to children's opinions, giving them the opportunity to participate in improving the children's home and its immediate environment and ensuring they have access to stable adult role models.

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Resumen. El bienestar subjetivo es un componente esencial de la calidad de vida. Conocemos muy poco sobre el bienestar subjetivo de los niños y niñas, y menos aún de los adolescentes de colectivos vulnerables como los que están acogidos por el sistema de protección. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar cómo influye el sistema de protección en el bienestar subjetivo de los adolescentes que acoge a partir de sus propias percepciones, evaluaciones y satisfacciones. Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado en Cataluña. La población de estudio fueron los adolescentes entre 12 y 14 años acogidos en centro residencial (n=379) y familia extensa (n=219). Se administró el cuestionario International Survey of Children's Well-Being (ISCWeB) que incluía tres escalas psicométricas: Overall Live Satisfaction (OLS), Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) y la Personal Well-Being Index (PWI) utilizadas como indicadores de bienestar subjetivo. La mayoría de los adolescentes acogidos en familia extensa están satisfechos con el tipo de acogimiento por sólo la mitad de los que están acogidos en centro. Los adolescentes que llevan más tiempo en el mismo tipo de acogimiento, los que viven en centros de menor tamaño, así como aquellos que manifiestan estar satisfechos con sus acogedores, educadores y compañeros de centro, muestran medias de bienestar subjetivo más altas. Es muy importante tener en cuenta la opinión de los adolescentes acogidos por el sistema de protección si se pretende mejorar su bienestar subjetivo. La estabilidad y el vínculo afectivo con acogedores y educadores es clave en su bienestar. Palabras clave: Bienestar subjetivo; adolescentes tutelados; sistema de protección; acogimiento residencial; acogimiento familiar.[pt] Como o sistema de proteção influencia o bem-estar subjetivo dos adolescentes que acolhe?Resumo. O bem-estar subjetivo é um componente essencial da qualidade de vida. Sabe-se muito pouco sobre o bem-estar subjetivo das crianças e menos ainda daqueles adolescentes em situação de vulnerabilidade, como os que foram acolhidos pelo sistema de proteção. O objetivo deste trabalho é estudar como o sistema de proteção influencia o bem-estar subjetivo dos adolescentes que acolhe, a partir das suas próprias percepções, avaliações e satisfações. Trata-se dum estudo transversal realizado na Catalunha. Os participantes do estudo foram adolescentes entre 12 e 14 anos acolhidos em instituições (n = 379) e a viver numa família extensa (n = 219). Responderam ao questionário International Survey of Children's Well-Being (ISCWeB) que inclui três escalas psicométricas: Overall Live Satisfaction (OLS), Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) e Personal Well-Being Index (PWI) utilizadas como Abstract Subjective well-being is an essential component of quality of life. Little is known about subjective well-being of children and even less about vulnerable groups such as adolescents in care. This paper aims at studying how the child protection system influences the subjective well-being of the adolescents in care on th...

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