Research investigating optimal well-being and life satisfaction of adolescents in relation to gender and self- efficacy perception has been scant. This study reports on the relationship between gender factor and optimal adolescent functioning, as indexed by a sense of satisfaction with life overall and with specific domains (e.g. self-esteem, self-efficacy and emotions). The sample is made up of 180 participants comprising (90) females and (90) males randomly selected from SS II students in (9) secondary schools in Lagos State. The selected schools were made up of ‘three co-educational’, ‘three all boys’, and ‘three all girls’ schools respectively while each of the three experimental groups consist a set of the three school types respectively. Three hypotheses were raised and data were generated and analyzed with statistical tools of Pearson correlation coefficient for hypothesis 1, and analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) with LSD post hoc test for hypotheses 2 and 3 at 0.05 level of significance. Results from the study revealed that there was improvement in self-efficacy/self-esteem perception of participants with the treatment models. It also shows that a statistical significant difference exists in perception to life satisfaction due to gender factor across the experimental conditions. Since each individual has a purpose in life there is the need to strive towards the fulfillment of his or her unique potentials for life satisfaction.

gender, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, perception, psycho-educational