A major new study has found that individuals who improve their ability to handle daily stress tend to become more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences over nearly two decades—a discovery with important implications for mental health and personal growth across Thailand. Conversely, the research shows that those struggling to manage stressors gradually become more introverted, unfriendly, and closed off to new experiences, highlighting stress management as a crucial catalyst for positive personality change.
Understanding the connection between stress and personality is increasingly relevant in Thailand, where work-life pressures, urbanization, and societal change contribute to rising anxiety and stress among adults and young people alike. This large-scale research, published recently in the journal Psychology and Aging, is the most comprehensive longitudinal study to explore how day-to-day stress management affects personality traits over an 18-year period (Futurity).
The study monitored over 2,000 participants, who periodically completed daily diaries tracking how they coped with stress, along with assessments of their personality traits, such as openness, agreeableness, and extroversion. Researchers used advanced statistical analysis to map changes in daily stress response to long-term shifts in personality. The findings revealed a clear pattern: as participants developed better strategies for handling stress, they became measurably more sociable, agreeable, and receptive to new experiences. On the other hand, those whose stress management deteriorated showed a parallel increase in introversion and a narrowing of their openness and kindness.
Lead author, an associate professor in the Michigan State University psychology department, explained, “Previous research has shown that your personality predicts how well you deal with daily stressors. 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. These improvements trickled up to affect how your personality changed over time.” This underscores a two-way relationship: not only do personality traits influence stress resilience, but improving stress management may actively shape favorable changes in personality over the long term.
Importantly, the researchers hope their work offers practical hope for individuals—especially those who find themselves becoming more withdrawn or unhappy. By consciously developing emotion regulation techniques, individuals may not only reduce stress but also gradually transform core aspects of their personality to be more outgoing and happier. “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. Being more extroverted, agreeable, and open to new experiences all correlate with greater happiness,” added the lead author.
In the Thai context, stress is a growing topic of public concern, particularly among urban working populations, university students, and older adults coping with family transitions and retirement (Bangkok Post). The COVID-19 pandemic and economic turbulence have sharply increased daily stressors, leading to higher incidences of anxiety and depression, as reported by the Department of Mental Health. Traditional Thai approaches to stress management include mindfulness meditation (known as “vipassana”), social support within extended families, and community-based rituals, which align closely with the study’s findings that sustained emotion regulation elevates well-being over the lifespan (Thai PBS World).
The study’s emphasis on “daily” stressors is also key—major life events naturally attract attention, but routine challenges, such as work deadlines, family disagreements, and financial worries, accumulate over time to profoundly affect mental health and personality development. The finding that success or struggle in managing these ordinary pressures shapes our openness, extroversion, and friendliness suggests that small, consistent changes in daily habits can yield significant long-term benefits.
Expert opinions reinforce these conclusions. Thai clinical psychologists, such as those at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, note that personality is not static; instead, it evolves with life experiences and deliberate practice. Practicing mindfulness, scheduling regular exercise, maintaining strong social ties, and developing positive cognitive framing techniques all contribute to building resilience. A mental health official at a major Bangkok hospital commented, “In Thailand, we see more cases of younger adults becoming socially withdrawn due to work and study stress. This new research underlines the need for early intervention through practical stress management strategies in schools, universities, and workplaces.”
From a cultural perspective, Thailand’s collectivist society traditionally values harmony, social engagement, and openness to experience—traits identified in the study as protective and beneficial. Buddhist teachings encourage acceptance, managing suffering, and the cultivation of “metta” (loving-kindness), which are closely tied to personality traits linked with happiness and lower stress. Community organizations across the country are increasingly promoting these values through public workshops in mindfulness and emotional well-being (The Nation Thailand).
Looking ahead, this research could influence public health strategies and education policies in Thailand, with greater emphasis on teaching stress management skills as part of health curricula nationwide. Companies and government agencies might also integrate emotional regulation training into employee wellness programs, particularly as Thailand’s population ages and faces unique social stressors related to retirement, health, and intergenerational caregiving.
The study’s evidence for the cumulative power of daily stress management offers a practical roadmap for individuals and policy makers. For Thai readers seeking actionable steps, the message is clear: making consistent, small improvements in how we handle routine frustrations can slowly reshape our personalities, ultimately creating a more engaging, agreeable, and open life. Practical techniques include mindfulness practice, cultivating supportive social networks, and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth—skills that can be learned through community courses, apps, or counseling services.
For readers concerned about rising introversion or social withdrawal, the advice is not to seek immediate dramatic change, but to build up emotional resilience one day at a time. Schools and workplaces can support these efforts by fostering environments that reduce stigma around stress, encourage open dialogue about mental health, and provide accessible mental wellness resources.
To learn more about managing stress and supporting personality growth, visit the Department of Mental Health’s resources (dmh.go.th), or consider joining a local mindfulness or support group through the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (thainhf.org). The full study is available via Futurity and Psychology and Aging.