Association between subjective well-being trajectories and anxiety/depression: findings from a nationally representative cohort study

•This study identifies four distinct trajectories of subjective well-being in older adults.•Anxiety/depression is significantly associated with subjective well-being trajectories.•Our study highlights the importance of screening and longitudinally tracking SWB in older adults.•Effective prevention and intervention of anxiety/depression is a high priority to maintain or improve SWB in older adults.