Extroverts ‘may live longer’

Several theories exist about why there is an apparent link between the two, but one possibility is that being good at social interaction could act as a buffer against the effects of stress.

An international team of researchers, led by the University of Edinburgh, studied almost 300 gorillas in zoos and sanctuaries in the United States over 18 years.

Particular attention was paid to four personality traits: dominance, extroversion, neuroticism and agreeableness.

Of the four traits, extroversion, associated with sociability, activity, play and curiosity, is linked with longer survival, the study concluded.