Life-of-the-Party type personalities may claim to have more fun, but can they claim to be healthier, too? Well, according to a recent article put out by New Scientist, they actually can.
In December of last year, a study was conducted that attempted to show links between personality traits and the body’s immune system. The study found “that highly conscientious people had lower levels of inflammation; an immune response that helps the body fight infection and recover from injury. Highly extroverted people had higher levels.”
While this may sound like good news for extroverts – having higher inflammation and thus being able to fight off infection easier, the downside to the sustained inflammation over a lifetime could “leave you vulnerable to diabetes, atherosclerosis and cancer.
Don’t get all in a tizzy though, Introverts. Even though extroverts may very well have you beat when it comes to inflammatory responses, Daniel Davis, an immunologist at the University of Manchester, UK points out that for the introvert, “other areas of their immune system may be stronger.”
Why Do Introverts Have Lower Levels of Inflammation?
The answer to this question is unknown, but the article in New Scientist points out that it makes sense that the more conscientious or introverted people will have less inflammation because they may take better care of themselves than the more spontaneous social butterflies. People who are more reserved are less likely to get hurt and less likely to be meeting a bunch of new people who carry a bunch of germs.
Another article on this recent finding from The News Reports suggests, “Individuals who they would expect to be exposed to more infections as a result of their socially oriented nature (i.e., extraverts) appear to have immune systems that they would expect can deal effectively with infection. While individuals who may be less exposed to infections because of their cautious/conscientious dispositions have immune systems that may respond less well.”
It’s just like I’ve always told my dad, “Dad, I bite my nails for the antibodies!” To which he’d respond, “It’s like you’re licking a toilet!” I don’t often get sick though…just sayin’ (and yes, I’m an extrovert).
It’s the same reason that people who live by the five-second rule don’t get sick as often as the people who go through bottles of hand sanitizer like it’s their job.
Just think about the story of Heidi. She’s this happy, healthy, sociable little mountain girl with a friend in another town who is so sickly she can’t walk or do anything. Her friend is cooped up at home all the time. But, when she comes and spends a summer with Heidi (the extrovert), she gets well.
Although scientists are not yet sure of the why this link might be there, we at least know now, that there is a link. Think about the people in your life. Do the extroverts tend to be healthier? In my own family, the answer is yes – they do.
Although we can’t change our personalities (and we shouldn’t try – what fun would life be if everyone was the same?!), studies like this can lead us to examine the way we live our lives. Being an introvert doesn’t mean you’re a shut-in who is never exposed to germs. But if you are more of a homebody and you get sick a lot, maybe getting out in the “fresh mountain air,” so to speak, like Heidi’s little friend will do you and your immune system some good.