How can personality traits influence stress levels

On this page, we help students to answer the following question: “How can personality traits influence stress levels?” This is an important focus area in Life Orientation Grade 12, as it helps learners understand why different people react differently to the same stressors.

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Quick Answer

How Personality Affects Stress:

• Perception: Some traits lead people to view challenges aseustress(motivating), while others see them asdistress(threatening).
• Coping Styles: Traits influence whether a person useseffective coping mechanismsor negative habits like avoidance.
• Resilience: Certain traits, such as optimism, act as a “buffer” against the Exhaustion Stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome.

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The Impact of Personality on Stress

In the South African Life Orientation curriculum, personality is defined as the unique set of characteristics that influence how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. These traits play a massive role in whether a learner feels overwhelmed during the matric year.

1. Type A vs. Type B Personalities

Textbooks often categorise people into two broad types to explain stress responses:

• Type A Personality: These individuals are often highly competitive, time-conscious, and ambitious. While this helps with academic priorities, they are more likely to experience excessive stress and health issues because they struggle to relax.
• Type B Personality: These individuals are generally more relaxed and patient. They are less likely to reach the Exhaustion Stage of stress, but they may need to work harder on monitoring their progress to avoid falling behind on NSC exam preparation.

2. Introversion vs. Extroversion

How a person recharges their energy influences how they handle social stressors.

• Introverts: May find large social groups draining. If they cannot find quiet time to study, their stress levels rise. They often prefer intrapersonal conflict resolution (thinking things through alone).
• Extroverts: Gain energy from social relationships. If they are isolated for too long during study periods, they may feel lonely and stressed. They benefit most from effective communication and study groups.

3. Optimism vs. Pessimism

Your mindset determines how you interpret a stressor.

• Optimists: View a difficult exam as an opportunity for personal growth. This positive outlook reduces the physical symptoms of stress.
• Pessimists: Tend to focus on the worst-case scenario (e.g., not qualifying for their course). This increases anxiety and can lead to unsettled conflicts with others.

4. Perfectionism

While striving for excellence is good for university admission requirements, extreme perfectionism is a major cause of distress.

• The Impact: Perfectionists often set unrealistic goals. When they cannot meet these standards, they experience high levels of intrapersonal conflict and burnout.

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Summary Table: Traits and Stress Impact

Personality Trait	Influence on Stress	Suggested Management
High Neuroticism	More likely to feel overwhelmed.	Use grounding and breathing.
Agreeableness	May struggle to say “no” to peers.	Set boundaries for academic priorities.
Conscientiousness	Generally lower stress due to planning.	Ensure time is scheduled for relaxation.
Locus of Control	Believing you can change things lowers stress.	Focus on goal setting.

Reference for Students:

• Subject: Life Orientation Grade 12
• Source: My Courses Personality and Stress Guide
• Topic: Development of the self in society – Factors influencing stress.