Capitol News

A study led by Michigan State University has revealed a connection between stress management and personality traits over nearly two decades. The research found that individuals who improve their handling of daily stressors tend to become more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences. Conversely, those who struggle with stress may become more introverted and closed off.

The study, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, is noted as the largest and longest of its kind to explore the relationship between daily stress management and personality changes. It involved over 2,000 participants who maintained daily diaries across an 18-year span, reporting on personality traits, stressors, and emotional experiences.

"Previous research has shown that your personality predicts how well you deal with daily stressors," said William Chopik, lead author of the study and associate professor in the MSU Department of Psychology. "The cool thing about this study is that, as you got better at handling stressors on a daily basis, you also became more extroverted, agreeable and open to new experiences over time."

Chopik emphasized that worsening at managing stress can lead to increased introversion and decreased openness. The researchers suggest that these findings could encourage people to consider how they manage emotions as it might influence their personalities positively.

"This study has the potential to give people a little bit of hope—if they’re able to find ways to regulate their emotions, that might accumulate and translate to changing their personalities," added Chopik. "Being more extroverted, agreeable and open to new experiences all correlate with greater happiness."