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 (Mage = 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