The Happiest Life Periods of Older Europeans: The Role of Socio-Economic Circumstances and Personality Traits

Abstract

While the determinants of subjective well-being have been the focus of extensive research, how happiness is distributed across the life course has received comparatively less attention. This article examines how socio-economic circumstances and personality traits shape older adults’ reflections on the happiest period of their lives. Specifically, we analyse how these factors influence both the probability of identifying the happiest life period and its duration. We focus on Europeans aged 50+ as evaluating past life events contributes to present well-being and plays an important role in successful aging. Using data from the SHARELIFE longitudinal survey covering 17 European countries, we apply logistic regression and an extended Cox proportional hazards model. Our results show that personality traits exert a significant yet distinct influence on both the likelihood of identifying the happiest period and its duration. Not only positive but also negative socio-economic conditions or major life transitions are associated with a higher probability of identifying a happiest period, but with a shorter duration of this period. By examining retrospective narratives of happiness, the study contributes to broader discussions in the social and behavioural sciences on life-course well-being and its relevance for understanding successful aging in Europe’s aging societies.