Individual Differences in Patterns of Developmental Opportunity and Constraint During COVID-19: Implications for Longitudinal Well-Being

Individual differences in sociodemographic characteristics and trait-like perceptions of opportunities and constraints may shape responses to adversities such as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about how these factors combine to form multifaceted profiles of developmental opportunity and constraint or the implications of such profiles for longitudinal well-being following major life stressors. Using a national sample of U.S. adults (n = 293), we used latent profile analysis to identify profiles based on relevant sociodemographic characteristics (age, SES, chronic conditions, functional status) and trait-like perceptions of opportunity and constraints (perceived mastery, perceived constraints). Results showed that three common profiles emerged at pandemic onset (veridical opportunity, perceived constraints, perceived opportunity). Subsequent latent growth models showed that, despite reporting more sociodemographic constraints, the perceived opportunity profile exhibited better 1-year emotional well-being (positive and negative affect) during the pandemic than the perceived constraints profile. Findings advance the literature by identifying multifaceted individual differences in profiles of developmental opportunity and constraint and by showing these profiles have consequences for longitudinal well-being following the pandemic onset.