A new study from the University of Limerick has found that your personality traits may influence how long you live.
The study looked at nearly six million years of combined data from people all over the world and showed that the way we think, feel, and behave could impact our risk of death.
The research was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. It reviewed many long-term studies from four different continents. The researchers examined five main personality traits and how they were linked to people’s chances of living longer.
They looked at data from almost 570,000 people, which covered about six million person-years and over 43,000 deaths. The personality traits studied were neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.
One of the main findings was that people with high levels of neuroticism—meaning they often feel anxious, worried, or emotionally unstable—tended to have a higher risk of dying earlier. In contrast, people who were more conscientious, or more likely to be organized and self-disciplined, had a lower risk of death.
People who were more extroverted—those who enjoy socializing and being active—also had a lower risk of death. However, this effect was especially noticeable in countries like the United States and Australia. The researchers think this may be because being outgoing may lead to better health outcomes in certain places due to cultural or lifestyle factors.
Interestingly, the link between neuroticism and early death was stronger in younger people. On the other hand, traits like openness and agreeableness didn’t show a strong link to how long someone lived.
Dr. Máire McGeehan, who led the study, explained that personality plays a big role not just in how happy or connected we feel, but also in our long-term health. She said these personality effects are just as important as well-known health factors like income or social status.
Another researcher, Dr. Páraic S Ó’Súilleabháin, said this study is a major step forward in understanding how our personality affects our health over time. He added that this research will likely lead to many more studies looking at how personality can be used to help improve public health.
This large study was a team effort involving scientists from the University of Limerick, Florida State University, West Virginia University, and Northwestern University.
In summary, this research shows that traits like being calm, organized, and social can help you live longer. It also reminds us that mental and emotional health are just as important as physical health. Knowing more about our own personality might even help us make choices that support a longer, healthier life.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
