The study covers affective and cognitive-emotional components of life satisfaction, the level of satisfaction of vital needs and activity of adolescents. The sample consisted of 146 adolescents aged 14-17 years (orphans, adolescents temporarily living apart from their families due to studying in another city, adolescents living in nuclear and extended families). Methods: life satisfaction scale by E. Diener, questionnaire regarding satisfaction with different spheres of life, satisfaction of vital needs scale by O. S. Kopina, questionnaire regarding social, cognitive, physical, and other types of activity. It has been shown that subjective well-being is a generalizing indicator related to assessments of satisfaction related to various aspects of life and satisfaction of needs level, but at the same time it demonstrates weak sensitivity to social living conditions. Assessment of satisfaction with different areas of life is different for adolescents living under different social conditions. The study reveals interrelation between subjective well-being and satisfaction of vital needs with various types of social activity of adolescents. The study singles out spheres of life that contribute to creating a sense of subjective well-being and resources of well-being among different groups of adolescents