Living Together or Apart? Differences in Adolescents’ Social Competencies and Well-Being Based on Living Situations

Social competencies are essential skills for functioning in life, acquired through social training. Contemporary social and environmental factors may negatively impact adolescents' social competencies and psychological well-being. However, limited research has explored how living arrangements, such as residing with parents versus in boarding facilities, influence these areas. This study compared the social competencies and well-being of adolescents living with parents or in bursas (boarding facilities in Poland) during the school week. The Social Competence Questionnaire (KKS) and the Mental Health Continuum - Short Form (MHC-SF) were used to assess 214 high school students: 103 in bursas and 111 living with their families. Results showed that adolescents living away from their families on school days demonstrated higher assertiveness, social exposure, and overall well-being, especially socially and emotionally. Coping in social exposure and intimate situations correlated positively with well-being. Psychological well-being correlated strongly with coping in intimate situations among students living with parents, and between psychological well-being and coping in social exposure among those in bursas. This study highlights how living arrangements relate to adolescents’ psychological functioning. These findings may inform school practices and policies supporting youth well-being and social integration.