Individuals' quality of life linked to major life events, perceived social support, and personality traits.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between major recent life events that occurred during the last 5 years, social and personal resources, and subjective quality of life (QoL).



A total of 1801 participants from the general population (CoLaus/PsyCoLaus study) completed the Life Events Questionnaire, the Social Support Questionnaire, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory Revised, and the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life.



Major life events were modestly associated with the QoL (about 5 % of the explained variance). However, QoL was significantly related to perceived social support and personality traits (about 37 % of the explained variance). Particularly, perceived social support, extraversion and conscientiousness personality dimensions were positively linked to life satisfaction, whereas a high level of neuroticism was negatively associated with QoL.



This study highlights the negative but temporary association between critical events and QoL. However, a combination of high conscientiousness and extraversion, and positive social support may explain better variances for a high-perceived QoL.
Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Géopolis, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. Cornelia.Pocnet@unil.ch.
Cornelia
C
Pocnet
Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Géopolis, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jean-Philippe
JP
Antonietti
Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Epidemiology and Psychopathology Research Center, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Marie-Pierre F
MF
Strippoli
Genetic Epidemiology Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Jennifer
J
Glaus
Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Epidemiology and Psychopathology Research Center, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Martin
M
Preisig
Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Géopolis, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jérôme
J
Rossier
D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Life events; Perceived social support; Personality; Subjective quality of life