A well-being of their own: Children’s perspectives of well-being from the capabilities approach

Abstract

Although children’s well-being is an increasingly important area of interest for policy and research, it is still an under-theorized concept. This article proposes a theoretical framework regarding children’s well-being that combines a capabilities approach with a social provisioning approach. The methodology used involved children in the conceptualization of their well-being and in validating a list of relevant capabilities necessary to have a good life. The data show how children express a multidimensional understanding of well-being and propose an agenda of priorities and concerns of their own different from that of adults.