Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/338924 
Year of Publication: 
2026
Series/Report no.: 
SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research No. 1236
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), Berlin
Abstract: 
Using long running panel data spanning at least 15 years from Australia, Germany and the UK, this study investigates longitudinal age-wellbeing trajectories by the Big Five personality traits. We estimate within person (fixed effects) models separately for each country and for low/high trait subgroups, producing 30 distinct trajectories. Across all subgroups, we found the same ageing pattern: a decline in wellbeing into midlife, a clear midlife low and a subsequent recovery. However, the shape of this trajectory differs systematically across personality. Individuals high in conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability experience a steeper decline into midlife compared to those lower on these traits. In contrast, highly extraverted individuals show a more gradual early decline and a shallower midlife low, followed by a stronger recovery. These patterns are broadly consistent across the three countries. Openness, by comparison, is only weakly associated with well-being trajectories and exhibits inconsistent, country-specific patterns.
Subjects: 
ageing
lifespan
personality traits
wellbeing
JEL: 
I31
J14
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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