This study utilizes data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, focusing on a sample of Chinese students, to investigate disparities in well-being (eudemonia and positive affect) between vocational and general high school students. Utilizing regression model, Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM), Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study examines the impact of school type while addressing endogeneity and testing robustness. Results of regression model indicate that general high school students report significantly lower eudemonia (β = -.181, p <.001) and positive affect (β = -.090, p <.001) compared to vocational high school students. The study employs CEM and IPW to address endogeneity and selection bias, and the findings remain robust. SEM further revealed that school type directly reduced well-being while highlighting competitiveness as a mediating factor, partially offsetting the negative impact of school type through positive indirect effects. Collectively, results underscore that general high school students experience diminished well-being relative to vocational peers, with systemic academic pressures and social dynamics contributing to these disparities. The findings advocate for holistic educational reforms prioritizing student well-being. © The International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) and Springer Nature B.V. 2025.
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