One feature of middle adolescence is the transition to high school, a stressful life event. As teenagers enter high school, they face increased demands for independent academic work coupled with the need to establish new social networks. Students who successfully navigate this change have higher positive affect than those who find the transition rife with challenges. In addition, those who struggle to adjust post-transition experience increased negative affect and more mental health concerns – all of which are markers of subjective well-being (SWB). This study examined differences in youth SWB coinciding with the move to high school. Additionally, we explored the extent to which variations in teenagers’ executive functions (EFs) and close relationships with others predict SWB. To do so, we utilized self-report survey data from a community sample of 13-to-15-year-old adolescents (N = 106). Results showed that post-transition, youth reported significantly lower SWB, as reflected by less life satisfaction, and more psychological distress. Psychological distress was higher in adolescent girls, those who experienced more EF challenges, and teenagers with weaker relationships. Findings were similar for life satisfaction with one notable difference. For adolescents with average to low close relationships with others, greater EF difficulties predicted lower life satisfaction. However, strong close relationships weakened the negative association between EF challenges and life satisfaction. We discuss how mechanisms accounting for the possible protective role of social relationships for youth who struggle to utilize their EFs effectively will be crucial to explore in future research.

青春期中期的一个特点是向高中的过渡，这是一个充满压力的生活事件。随着青少年进入高中，他们面临着独立学术工作的需求增加以及建立新的社交网络的需要。成功驾驭这一变革的学生比那些发现变革充满挑战的学生有更高的积极影响。此外，那些难以适应变性后经历的人会增加负面情绪和更多的心理健康问题——所有这些都是主观幸福感（SWB）的标志。这项研究考察了青少年在升入高中时主观幸福感的差异。此外，我们还探讨了青少年执行功能（EF）的变化以及与他人的密切关系在多大程度上预测了主观幸福感。为此，我们利用了 13 至 15 岁青少年社区样本的自我报告调查数据 (N = 106)。结果显示，转型后，青年人的主观幸福感显着降低，表现为生活满意度降低和心理困扰增多。青春期女孩、经历更多 EF 挑战的女孩以及人际关系较弱的青少年的心理困扰更高。生活满意度的调查结果相似，但有一个显着差异。对于与他人关系中等或较低的青少年来说，EF 困难越大，生活满意度就越低。然而，紧密的关系削弱了 EF 挑战与生活满意度之间的负相关关系。我们讨论了如何解释社会关系对那些努力有效利用其 EF 的年轻人可能发挥的保护作用的机制如何在未来的研究中至关重要。