Got a raise? A study of 134,000 workers reveals what happens to your personality

An international study of 134,551 workers, published in Psychological Bulletin, found that an increase in income is linked to a strengthening of conscientiousness and emotional stability, but to a decrease in extraversion and agreeableness. The study is observational and does not prove causality.

An international study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin examined the link between changes in income and changes in personality, tracking 134,551 workers over 4 to 19 years. The researchers, led by Professor Li Wen-Dong from the School of Business at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, combined data from 11 long-term longitudinal studies. The findings show that an increase in income was associated with a strengthening of conscientiousness traits (order, responsibility, and perseverance) and emotional stability, but with a decrease in extraversion (less sociability and sensation-seeking) and agreeableness. The relationship was also found in the opposite direction: those who became more organized and stable tended to earn more later. However, the article emphasizes that this is an observational study that does not prove causality, and factors such as job promotion and the accompanying responsibility may be what influences personality.