Researchers generally agree that personality is made up of 5 unique traits:
- Conscientiousness (organization, productiveness, responsibility)
- Extraversion (sociability, assertiveness; its opposite is Introversion)
- Agreeableness (compassion, respectfulness, trust in others)
- Openness (intellectual curiosity and creative imagination)
- Neuroticism (tendencies toward anxiety and depression)
Some people may have very high or low levels of a trait, but most of us fall somewhere in-between.
What is extraversion?
Extraversion describes how outgoing, adventurous, and dominant someone is.
- Those with high levels of extraversion tend to feel energized in large groups and enjoy being the center of attention. They are more likely to be thrill-seekers and the life of the party.
- Those with low levels of extraversion tend to be less social or outgoing. They think carefully before speaking, enjoy time alone or with a few close friends, and are less likely to take part in thrill-seeking activities.
Why does extraversion matter for health and health decision-making?
Extraversion is associated with both healthy and unhealthy behaviors. For example, though people who are high in extraversion may be more likely to smoke or engage in distracted driving, they also tend to be more physically active.
Personality is only part of the picture–that is, being high in extraversion doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a distracted driver. Additional factors, including genetics and your environment, come into play to affect health behaviors.
We recently offered our members the opportunity to take a survey to see where they fall on the spectrum for extraversion. If you’re an Evidation Member who took the survey and received your extraversion results, read on to understand what a high or low score may mean for your health. If you’re not a member and want to see results like these, download the Evidation app.
I scored high in extraversion. What could this mean for my health?
If you’re high in extraversion, try using what you’ve learned about your personality to help you improve your health behaviors. For example…
- If your social activities often involve drinking or smoking, try finding other activities, such as concerts or hikes, that you and your friends may enjoy.
- As someone who is more extraverted, you’re likely to already be physically active. Make sure to keep that up!
- Individuals who are extraverted are more likely to enjoy thrill-seeking experiences. Find healthy and exciting experiences, such as fun runs, to keep yourself moving and motivated.
I scored low in extraversion. What could this mean for my health?
If you’re low in extraversion, you may want to focus on keeping up your relationships. Research has found that social relationships may be just as important for a long and healthy life as not smoking, and even more important than being physically active!
Of course, physical activity is also important. If you haven’t already, you may want to find methods of physical activity that fit your personality and that don’t drain you both physically and socially.
You’re probably less likely to enjoy team sports or running clubs, for example, and more likely to enjoy walks with close friends, swimming, or small group activities. If you don’t have a routine yet, try out a few small-group or solo activities to see what you like.
Want to receive more personalized health insights? Complete cards daily in the Evidation app and, if you haven’t already, connect a compatible health app.
Don’t yet have an Evidation account? Download the app today!
