title: Neuroticism and Extraversion in Youth Predict Mental Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction 40 Years Later.
abstract: Neuroticism and Extraversion are linked with current wellbeing, but it is unclear whether these traits in youth predict wellbeing decades later. We applied structural equation modelling to data from 4583 people from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. We examined the effects of Neuroticism and Extraversion at ages 16 and 26 years on mental wellbeing and life satisfaction at age 60-64 and explored the mediating roles of psychological and physical health. Extraversion had direct, positive effects on both measures of wellbeing. The impact of Neuroticism on both wellbeing and life satisfaction was largely indirect through susceptibility to psychological distress and physical health problems. Personality dispositions in youth have enduring influence on wellbeing assessed about forty years later.
authors.affiliation: MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK ; Centre for Cognitive Ageing & Cognitive Epidemiology, Dept of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Catharine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing & Cognitive Epidemiology, Dept of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing & Cognitive Epidemiology, Dept of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK ; Department of Psychology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mõttus
authors.affiliation: MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuh
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cognitive Ageing & Cognitive Epidemiology, Dept of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Deary
keywords: Cohort; Extraversion; Life satisfaction; Neuroticism; Wellbeing