Affective mediators of the influence of neuroticism and resilience on life satisfaction

The primary goal of this study was to explore the influence of neuroticism and resilience on life satisfaction and investigate the mediating effects of positive and negative affect on this relationship. A total of 282 participants were administered a battery of questionnaires that assessed neuroticism, resilience, positive and negative affect, and life satisfaction. Results from path analyses (AMOS) revealed that positive affect partially mediated the association between neuroticism and life satisfaction. Furthermore, the association between resilience and life satisfaction was fully mediated by positive affect. These findings highlight the mediational role of positive rather than negative affect in the relationships between neuroticism, resilience and life satisfaction. Results elaborate on the earlier findings connecting neuroticism and resilience to life satisfaction. Limitations of the study are considered and implications of the results for promotion of individuals’ life satisfaction are discussed.

► We examined how neuroticism and resilience affect life satisfaction.
► Neuroticism exerted a direct effect on life satisfaction.
► Positive affect partially mediated the neuroticism–life satisfaction relation.
► Positive affect fully mediated the relation between resilience and life satisfaction.