Neuroticism and Extraversion in youth predict mental wellbeing and life satisfaction 40 years later

•We examined the effect of personality in youth on wellbeing at age 60–64 years.•Extraversion had direct, positive effects on wellbeing.•Neuroticism’s effects were largely indirect, via poorer mental and physical health.•Personality dispositions in youth predict levels of wellbeing around 40 years later.

Neuroticism and Extraversion are linked with current wellbeing, but it is unclear whether these traits in youth predict wellbeing decades later. We applied structural equation modeling to data from 4583 people from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. We examined the effects of Neuroticism and Extraversion at ages 16 and 26 years on mental wellbeing and life satisfaction at age 60–64 and explored the mediating roles of psychological and physical health. Extraversion had direct, positive effects on both measures of wellbeing. The impact of Neuroticism on both wellbeing and life satisfaction was largely indirect through susceptibility to psychological distress and physical health problems. Personality dispositions in youth have enduring influence on wellbeing assessed about 40 years later.