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Life Stressors, Social Support, and Children’s Subjective Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Cross-National Survey of 20 Societies

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  • Xi Chen

    (Lingnan University, Hong Kong)

  • Stefan Kühner

    (Lingnan University, Hong Kong)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the well-being of people across all age groups, with children being particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on stable routines and social interactions for healthy development. Guided by stress-coping theory, this study examines the impact of life stressors and social support on children’s subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a large-scale, cross-national dataset of 20,047 children aged 7–15 from 20 societies, we assessed how various stressors and social support from friends, family, and teachers influenced indicators of subjective well-being, including life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, and negative affect. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that virus-related stressors and pandemic-induced disruptions negatively impacted children’s subjective well-being. Conversely, social support from family, friends, and teachers was generally associated with better well-being. However, the role of social support in moderating stress was complex: while support from friends buffered the adverse effects of stressors on life satisfaction and positive affect, family support sometimes amplified the negative impact of stressors, demonstrating a reverse buffering effect. These findings underscore the critical role of life stressors and social support in shaping children’s well-being during crises and highlight the need for targeted interventions to strengthen social connections and support systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Chen & Stefan Kühner, 2025. "Life Stressors, Social Support, and Children’s Subjective Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Cross-National Survey of 20 Societies," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 18(2), pages 905-936, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:18:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s12187-024-10211-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-024-10211-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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