Stressful and potentially traumatic life events and satisfaction with life among Norwegian adults: cross-sectional results from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study
- 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
Abstract
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<0.001) and impersonal SLEs/PTEs (B = −0.05, p<0.001) were significantly associated with lower SWL. SEM analyses indicated that SLEs/PTEs had both direct negative effects on SWL (interpersonal SLE/PTE: B = −0.15, p<0.001, impersonal SLE/PTE: B = −0.06, p<0.001) and indirect effects through mental distress, somatic health, living with a partner, having friends to confide in and self-reliance.
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.
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BibTeX
@article{rognmo2026stressful,
title = {{Stressful and potentially traumatic life events and satisfaction with life among Norwegian adults: cross-sectional results from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study}},
author = {Kamilla Rognmo and Ingunn Skre and Catharina Elisabeth Arfwedson Wang and Jens C Thimm},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121585},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121585},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Stressful and potentially traumatic life events and satisfaction with life among Norwegian adults: cross-sectional results from the seventh survey of the Tromsø study
AU - Kamilla Rognmo
AU - Ingunn Skre
AU - Catharina Elisabeth Arfwedson Wang
AU - Jens C Thimm
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121585
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-121585
AB - 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<0.001) and impersonal SLEs/PTEs (B = −0.05, p<0.001) were significantly associated with lower SWL. SEM analyses indicated that SLEs/PTEs had both direct negative effects on SWL (interpersonal SLE/PTE: B = −0.15, p<0.001, impersonal SLE/PTE: B = −0.06, p<0.001) and indirect effects through mental distress, somatic health, living with a partner, having friends to confide in and self-reliance. 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.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -