So, there’s some pretty interesting news coming out of Michigan State University! A study has revealed that if you get better at handling everyday stress, you tend to become more of an extrovert and even more open to new experiences. But if you find it hard to manage stress, you might end up on the introverted side of things instead.
This research, which is published in the journal Psychology and Aging, is not just any study; it’s actually the longest and largest study that digs into how daily stress management can influence your personality over a period of about 20 years.
More than 2,000 participants generated data by recording their experiences in daily diaries three times during an 18-year span, covering the journey from mid-life to their older years. In these diaries, they shared details on their personality traits, types of stress they dealt with, and their emotional reactions over eight days. The researchers then used advanced statistical methods to connect the dots between how these folks managed everyday stress and the shifts in their personality over the years.
William Chopik, the lead author and a psychology professor at MSU, shared, “Previous research has indicated that personality can help predict how you handle stress. The cool twist here is that getting better at dealing with stress can also lead to becoming more extroverted and agreeable as time goes on, influencing your personality transformations. Seriously, how neat is that?”
He added, “On the flip side, if someone struggles with daily stress, they might see themselves becoming更加内向, less friendly, and more resistant to new experiences over time.”
What should you take away from this? The researchers want people to look at this study as a potential game-changer regarding how they perceive themselves and their stress reactions.
Chopik believes this research could offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting that mastering your emotional regulation can lead to real changes in your personality. He noted, “Being more extroverted, agreeable, and welcoming of new experiences often leads to greater happiness. It’s all interconnected!”
He concluded, “I hope that this gives people encouragement to see that their daily choices and how they tackle stresses can not only heighten happiness but might just help shift their personalities for the better!”
For further details, check out the study: William J. Chopik et al, Interrelations between daily stress processes and Big Five personality trait changes over 20 years., Psychology and Aging (2025). DOI: 10.1037/pag0000912
This information is brought to you by Michigan State University.
This story originally appeared in Medical Xpress.
