Youth Wellbeing Across Four European Countries: A Comparative Cross-National Analysis of Multidimensional Development Patterns

This paper presents a comparative cross-national analysis of youth wellbeing across four European countries (Spain, Greece, Poland, and Cyprus), based on data collected within the Erasmus+ project WellMe – Wellbeing Hubs: Building a Sustainable Learning Environment for Youth in Local Communities.

The study employs a multidimensional framework of youth wellbeing, assessing five key dimensions: health and nutrition, social connection and values, safety and supportive environment, learning and competence, and agency and resilience. The analysis is based on a cross-sectional survey (N = 188) using the WELLME Youth Wellbeing Questionnaire (MWYS).

Findings highlight both universal and context-specific patterns of youth wellbeing across countries, with significant differences identified particularly in the learning and competence dimension, while safety and supportive environments show consistently high levels across contexts. Health and nutrition emerged as a shared area of vulnerability across all participating countries.

Keywords: youth wellbeing; cross-national comparison; positive psychology; multidimensional assessment; European youth policy; resilience; family support systems.

Funding

This work was developed with the support of the European Union and co-funded under the Erasmus+ Programme, KA220-YOU – Cooperation Partnerships in Youth. It was produced within the project WellMe – Wellbeing Hubs: Building a Sustainable Learning Environment for Youth in Local Communities (Agreement No. 2024-1-ES02-KA220-YOU-000245165).

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the National Agency can be held responsible for them.