Personality and Cultural Income Differences Shape the Life Satisfaction Gap Between Aging Immigrants and Natives in Europe

Abstract

The present study examined the size and possible sources of life satisfaction differences between immigrants and natives in a sample of over 55,000 adults (aged 50+ years) across 16 European countries and Israel. Consistent with theory and prior research, immigrants reported lower life satisfaction than natives on average, while the size of the life satisfaction gap varied substantially across individuals and countries. Low neuroticism and high extraversion reduced the life satisfaction gap, suggesting that these personality traits may serve as internal resources for immigrants when faced with migration-related stressors. In contrast, we found a wider life satisfaction gap between immigrants and natives in high-income countries, suggesting that economic disparities between immigrants and natives in prosperous nations may contribute to the observed life satisfaction gap.