How workplace stress changes personality: the Big Five traits

How workplace stress affects personality

A study published by the University of Illinois suggests that workplace stress can change our personality. Authors Jarvis Smallfield and Donald Kluemper examine five core characteristics that they believe are most strongly affected: conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience, extraversion and neuroticism, known in psychology as the “Big Five” personality traits.

“We suggest that personality change involving these traits can happen in as little as four weeks,” says Smallfield.

Neuroticism is likely to be the most affected, but negative changes can also be seen in the other traits: conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experience and extraversion. Constant stress harms our emotional health. We may become more neurotic, making us more sensitive to stress, which in turn makes us even more neurotic. According to the authors, this spiral, which passes through burnout, can reach levels of dysfunction resembling clinical depression. The study’s conclusions go further. Chronic workplace stress may have a much longer-lasting effect than we assume. Epigenetic research—examining how the environment influences gene expression—suggests that stress can change the expression of our DNA. As a result, behavioural changes could potentially be passed on to future generations.

The difference between good and bad stress

It is not all bad news!

We have written about good and bad stress more than once, but here is a brief reminder. Bad stress, or distress, makes us feel unable to cope with a stressor or situation: we feel tense, overwhelmed, exhausted and under threat. Good stress, or eustress, can be understood as a challenge we are motivated to overcome. For example, we complete a complex project from start to finish and receive a promotion or bonus. Or we run a business and need to protect both the business and our team during a pandemic. We introduce appropriate changes, training and programmes and ultimately achieve our goals. Good stress mobilises us and helps us achieve the desired results and rewards.

How stress affects teams and organisations

It is easy to see that when employees and colleagues experience constant stress, with no opportunity for relief or reward, and the traits described above change, the team and company will be affected too. We could rely on everyone eventually taking care of themselves, choosing to see a challenge rather than a threat and responding accordingly—but that is not always possible. As employers, we are responsible for providing our people with the support and conditions they need to work, stay healthy and develop.

How employers can reduce stress

Caring for people’s wellbeing—including physical, emotional, financial and career wellbeing—should be a core priority for every organisation, now and in the future. If you are unsure where to start, the first step is a stress assessment. From there, you can develop a wellbeing programme and a comprehensive strategy tailored to your organisation’s circumstances, requirements and needs. The programme then moves from theory into practice, with us as an experienced and reliable partner throughout the process. The result: you have taken care of your employees, teams, company and business. Your people receive a clear signal that they matter and are valued by you and the company. They receive real support and care, with benefits that extend beyond the short term into the longer term.