Stressful and potentially traumatic life events and satisfaction with life among Norwegian adults: cross-sectional results from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study

Objective To examine the association between interpersonal and impersonal stressful and potentially traumatic life events (SLEs/PTEs) and satisfaction with life (SWL), and to assess the extent to which this relationship is mediated by mental distress, somatic health and social factors. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Population-based study in Tromsø, Norway. Participants A total of 21 069 adults aged ≥40 years from the seventh wave of the Tromsø Study (mean age 57.3 years). Primary outcome measure SWL measured using the Satisfaction With Life Scale-3. Methods Linear regression analyses and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to examine associations between SLEs/PTEs and SWL and to assess direct and indirect effects via mental distress, somatic health, cohabitation status, perceived social support and self-reliance. Results Both interpersonal (B = −0.11, p Conclusions Exposure to SLEs/PTEs is associated with reduced life satisfaction, with both direct and indirect pathways via mental and somatic health and social support. Interpersonal SLEs/PTEs appear to have a stronger negative impact on SWL than impersonal events.