ABSTRACT
Conspiratorial ideation is associated with pessimism, ontological insecurity, and perceived institutional betrayal—cognitive worldviews linked to threat-focused information processing, lower self-esteem, reduced meaning in life, and poorer well-being. However, cross-sectional research limits understanding of the temporal dynamics among these variables. This four-wave study examined whether conspiratorial ideation predicts life satisfaction over time, directly and indirectly via outlook, self-esteem, and meaning in life, in a UK adult sample (N = 615). Path analyses showed that conspiratorial ideation predicted higher pessimism, decreased self-esteem, and lower subsequent life satisfaction. Sequential mediation indicated that negative self-esteem and search for meaning mediated the relationship between conspiratorial ideation and declining life satisfaction. Conversely, presence of meaning was positively affiliated with life satisfaction, suggesting that perceived purpose may buffer some negative effects of conspiratorial thinking. These findings identify cognitive–affective pathways through which conspiratorial belief systems shape well-being over time.