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Life Satisfaction for Young Adults Over the Covid Cycle: Did it Bounce Back?

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  • David (David Patrick) Madden

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamics of life satisfaction for a sample of young Irish adults before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Using longitudinal data from the Child cohort of the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) survey we analyse changes in the Cantril ladder measure of life satisfaction and transitions across the critical threshold of high and low life satisfaction. We find that in general life satisfaction fell during Covid but then recovered but not back to its pre-Covid levels. We also use Group Based Trajectory Modelling to identify heterogeneity in the trajectories of life satisfaction and find three distinct groupings, one of which experienced quite a sharp drop in life satisfaction during Covid. Statistical associations for membership of this group include low educational attainment, financial hardship, introversion, emotional instability and lack of conscientiousness. For future crises similar to Covid, policy should first focus on protection of people with such pre-existing vulnerabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • David (David Patrick) Madden, 2026. "Life Satisfaction for Young Adults Over the Covid Cycle: Did it Bounce Back?," Working Papers 202605, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucn:wpaper:202605
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/31909
    File Function: First version, 2026
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis

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