The aims of this study were to verify the relation of the subjective well-being of parents and their children, and to present optimism and well-being levels in groups of adults and children. Participants were 390 children aged between four and 11 years of age and 287 parents, aged between 24 and 77. Boys scored higher than girls in pessimism, and mothers showed more satisfaction with life than fathers. Fathers' life satisfaction was correlated with mothers' life satisfaction. Results showed mother's optimism was positively correlated with children's life satisfaction, and mothers' positive affect correlated positively with children's optimism. Only the variables involving mothers showed a relationship with indicators of a positive development.
Optimism; subjective well-being; parent-child