Life Satisfaction Development in the Transition to Adulthood: Differences by Gender and Immigrant Background

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Life satisfaction is vital for healthy adult development.
• Understanding life satisfaction trajectories during the critical transition to adulthood is limited.
• This study addresses the developmental course of life satisfaction in young people.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the developmental trajectory of life satisfaction from adolescence to early adulthood.
• To investigate gender differences in life satisfaction development.
• To explore disparities based on immigrant background and their intersection with gender.

Main Methods:

• Utilized longitudinal data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey Germany (2010-2018).
• Analyzed seven waves of data from a cohort aged 14 to 23 (N=3757).
• Applied multi-level random effect models to capture developmental changes and group differences.

Main Results:

• Life satisfaction exhibited a nonlinear, M-shaped development, with declines observed between ages 17-18 and 20-23.
• Girls reported lower and more volatile life satisfaction trajectories compared to boys.
• Girls with immigrant backgrounds showed the least favorable life satisfaction trajectory, though group differences narrowed after age 19.

Conclusions:

• The transition to adulthood is characterized by significant, non-linear changes in life satisfaction.
• Gender and immigrant status significantly moderate life satisfaction development, particularly in adolescence.
• Interventions may be needed to support vulnerable groups, though developmental convergence occurs later in young adulthood.