A new study from Michigan State University suggests that how you manage daily stress can actually shape your personality over time.
According to the research, people who get better at handling everyday stressors tend to become more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences.
On the other hand, those who struggle with daily stress may become more introverted, less friendly, and more closed off as they age.
The study, published in the journal Psychology and Aging, is the largest and longest of its kind to explore the link between everyday stress and personality change.
It followed more than 2,000 people over a span of nearly 20 years, from midlife into older adulthood.
Participants filled out daily diary entries three times over the course of the study.
During each of these periods, they recorded their personality traits, types of stress they faced, and their emotional responses for eight consecutive days.
The research team then used advanced statistical tools to analyze how these daily experiences added up over time.
William Chopik, the lead author of the study and an associate professor of psychology at Michigan State, explained the main takeaway: “We already knew that your personality can affect how you respond to stress.
But what’s really interesting is that learning to deal with stress well can actually change your personality in positive ways.”
He added that if people become worse at handling stress as time goes on, the opposite happens. They become more withdrawn, less open, and less pleasant to be around.
The findings are hopeful because they suggest that people have some control over how their personalities evolve.
If you can improve your emotional regulation—how you respond to life’s ups and downs—it may lead to more happiness and personal growth in the long run. That’s because being extroverted, agreeable, and open to new things are all traits linked to greater life satisfaction.
Chopik hopes that this study encourages people to reflect on their daily reactions to stress. By finding healthier ways to cope, they might not only feel better in the moment but also become a more positive version of themselves over time.
