An enormous amount of research has been carried out to try to establish links between personality and health. Although there is little that anyone can do to change fundamental personality, there is much that can be done to modify self-destructive behavioral traits and reduce health risks, such as poor diet, lack of exercise, high-stress activities, and drinking and smoking. Most people have a mix of attributes, but if the scores in one of the dimensions are very high – or if personality factors are leading to health-affecting behaviors – then making some lifestyle changes may well be beneficial.
Extrovert Type
Extroverts may need more balance and moderation in their lifestyles. They should be sure to get enough sleep and eat healthily. There may be a tendency to drink in excess and indulge in too much partying and risk-taking behavior. Reining in such tendencies could benefit mental and physical health.
Introvert Type
Introverted people are generally shy and often have less well-developed social skills. They may benefit from some form of social-skills counseling to help them overcome any tendency to excessive shyness. Introverts who live on their own should be careful not to neglect their own physical and emotional needs, in particular by maintaining important social contact with family and friends.
Emotional Type
A very high emotional score may indicate a tendency to suffer from depression, phobias, or obsessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help to improve mental and physical health. Raising self-esteem, using positive thinking techniques, and learning how to deal with anxiety may be priorities for a happier and healthier life.
Stable Type
People with a stable personality tend not to overreact to emotional stimuli and are not subject to rapid or extreme swings of mood. Others generally see them as reliable, although their lack of emotion may be considered a sign of detachment. Stable people need to be aware that others 1o not necessarily share their calm and balanced outlook on life.
Tough Type
A very high toughness score may indicate a need for anger-management counseling and the curbing of risk-taking behaviors. There is a notable difference in the scores of men and women on this attribute. Men tend to be tougher on average, and women more tender, although there is still considerable overlap.
Tender Type
Tender people are generally well-liked by those around them. However, there is a chance that they may be taken advantage of if their tenderness is perceived as a weakness. Behaving too tender away can make a person vulnerable to depression when things go wrong, or expectations are overturned. Tender people may need to think of others less and themselves more.
