A longitudinal study of the trajectory of life satisfaction before, during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its associations with sociodemographic characteristics, psychological distress, and stressors during the pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Background There has been a paucity of literature on the long-term changes in well-being since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. We explored a 12-year change in life satisfaction (LS) in Canada before and after COVID-19 and identified sociodemographic, psychological, and stressors during the pandemic associated with LS in 2024. Methods Data were drawn from a community-based longitudinal population cohort established in 2007. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine LS trajectories across four data collections: T3 (2012–2013), T4 (2014–2015), T7 (2022–2023), and T8 (2024), and LS in 2024 and their related correlates. Results Compared to pre-pandemic, participants at T7 (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55–0.91) and T8 (AOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51–0.85) reported having lower odds of high LS. Singles, middle-aged adults, and those with higher psychological distress were less likely to report high LS. Income-related stressors at T8 and financial hardship at T7 were also associated with lower odds of high LS at T8. Conclusion Compared to pre-pandemic, LS declined during the pandemic (T7) and remained lower in 2024 (T8), with no evidence of recovery. Certain population subgroups were at even elevated risk of experiencing a decline in LS and of reporting low LS in 2024, which underscores the importance of financial support for individuals experiencing income instability and psychological distress.