This study investigates how the changing socioeconomic conditions in Russia and Ukraine affected the psychological well-being of high-school adolescents in these countries. In addition, the effects of the micro-level factors, including the economic conditions of the adolescents’ family and perceived social support were investigated.

The study was conducted in twelve medium-size towns and large cities scattered across the entire territory of Russia and the Ukraine. Adolescents studying in public high schools filled out the questionnaires in 1999 (n=489) and in 2007 (n=740). Six indexes of psychological well-being were measured: emotional and behavioral problems, loneliness, self-esteem, body image, social competence, and school competence.

Macro-level socioeconomic conditions in Russia and Ukraine substantially improved from 1999 to 2007; however, none of the six indexes of psychological well-being measured in this study changed significantly. The psychological well-being of Russian and Ukrainian adolescents remained much worse than that of their peers in developed countries. Russian adolescents consistently reported higher selfesteem and school competence than their Ukrainian peers. At the micro-level, perceived parental care and autonomy providing, as well as perceived social support from parents, peers, and teachers were the major contributors to the adolescents’ psychological well-being.

Changes in adolescents’ psychological well-being do not follow macro-level socioeconomic changes that occur in a country. This indicates that psychological well-being is more influenced by values and cultural norms, which are relatively stable in each country, rather than by changing socioeconomic conditions.