Can Your Gut Bacteria Influence Your Personality—And Vice Versa?

Managing the health of your gut microbiome can influence everything from your weight to your mood. While choosing the right probiotics and eating gut-friendly foods are effective ways to support your gut, research published in Human Microbiome shows there might also be psychological factors that influence bacterial diversity.

After digging into the science of the gut-brain connection, lead researcher Katerina Johnson, DPhil, from Oxford University's Department of Experimental Psychology, found your personality might actually be affecting your gut health1.

"There has been growing research linking the gut microbiome to the brain and behavior," Johnson said in a news release, but most research has been conducted in animals, and the human studies were more focused on the gut's influence in neuropsychiatric disorders, like seizures, ADHD, depression, and more. 

Results showed people who had large social networks, or more outgoing personalities, were more likely to have diverse gut bacteria. Diversity in the gut is linked to a healthy microbiome and generally greater health overall. 

On the other hand, people with high levels of stress and anxiety tended to have less diversity in the microbiome. 

Not necessarily. Though introverts rely on alone time to recharge, that doesn't mean they avoid social interaction at all costs. Additionally, the study found other ways to increase bacterial diversity that don't require much or any socialization.

If you're not the type of person to gravitate toward large groups, consider going on solo trips. According to the study, "more adventurous eaters...tended to have a more diverse gut microbial community." This is likely because international travel introduces you to new foods—thus, more diversity in your microbiome.