Trajectory of life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation period: the effects of personality and changes in optimism

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted individuals’ life circumstances. In this unique context, people with different personality traits may experience varying trajectories of life satisfaction. However, there is limited research examining the role of personality in shaping these trajectories or investigating the underlying mechanisms. This study aims to explore the potential relationship between personality and the trajectory of life satisfaction, and to examine the mediating role of optimism in this relationship. The sample consisted of 2935 participants ( M age = 52.92, SD = 15.96, range: 15–75, 47.09% male) from the Longitudinal Internet studies for the Social Sciences (LISS) panel. The findings revealed that life satisfaction increased during the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation period from 2020 to 2022. Individuals with high levels of extraversion ( β = 0.09, p < 0.001), conscientiousness ( β = 0.09, p < 0.01), and emotional stability ( β = 0.42, p < 0.001) exhibited a high level of life satisfaction at the onset. Emotional stability exhibited the most influential effect on life satisfaction. Nevertheless, only emotional stability predicted a slower increase in life satisfaction ( β = −0.11, p < 0.05). Furthermore, this study identified several mediation pathways. The initial level of optimism served as a mediator in the links between personality (except for emotional stability) and the initial level and change in life satisfaction. The changes in optimism mediated the effects of agreeableness and emotional stability on the subsequent change in the slope of life satisfaction, as well as the association between emotional stability and the intercept of life satisfaction. These findings contribute to our understanding of the factors influencing individuals’ subjective well-being and provide implications for interventions to enhance life satisfaction.