Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond: A Study on Happiness & Personality in Young Adults

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the whole world to a halt. It changed the way many perceived their surroundings and drastically impacted their happiness, as well as mental health. Most people were forced to lose social contact in a way that mentally secluded them. However, a common understanding prevailed, that the lockdown was easy on the introverts and tough on the extroverts. Being at home, avoiding people, being content by living in solitude are all common traits that introverts generally can identify with, hence, believing that the lockdown was an introvert’s heaven is justifiable. Similarly, it is understandable that due to the same reasons the lockdown was significantly difficult for the extroverts. Nevertheless, as much as the claim seems valid, it lacks empirical evidence. The present study therefore aims to study the impact of the lockdown on introverts and extroverts and the effect it had on their happiness, ultimately to see whose happiness was more severely affected, or if both the personalities were affected in a relatively similar manner. The study was conducted on 50 young adults. Standardized tests of personality and happiness were administered. The findings of the study revealed a significant correlation between extraversion and happiness, as well as extraversion and assertiveness, while neuroticism and extraversion shared a negative correlation. It was observed that contradictory to common belief extroverts are relatively happier even post the lockdown period in comparison to the introverts. The research also found that being open to new experiences has no correlation to happiness. The research therefore provided insightful and empirical evidence for claims previously made in hindsight, highlighting the relationship between personality and happiness.