This Personality Trait Might Be the Key to a Longer, Healthier Life

Yahoo

23-07-2025

As a society, we're not as trusting as we used to be—for good reason. We're living at a time of internet scams, catfishing, artificial intelligence, and social media, where you really don't know what to believe. But a new study suggests that being more trusting may actually have its benefits. Published recently in the American Psychological Association's journal Psychological Bulletin, the research found that people with higher levels of trust in both other people and institutions have higher levels of well-being than those who aren't as trusting. This is especially important, the authors argue, as well-being is not only an indicator of quality of life, but also a predictor of health and longevity.
So, what does it take to become more trusting? And how do you strike a balance between trust and caution? We spoke with a number of experts to find out.
Why Does Trust Improve Well-Being?
The study found that people who feel they can rely on others—whether it's close relationships or the broader systems around them—tend to experience lower stress, stronger emotional regulation, and a greater sense of safety in the world, says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, PhD, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind.
'All of these factors support not just mental wellness but also physical health,' she explains. 'The absence of trust leaves people more prone to feeling alone, hypervigilant or anxious, and over time, chronic stress triggers the body's stress response. Studies have shown connections between chronic stress and inflammation, cardiovascular disease, lowered immunity, and even cognitive decline.'
In contrast, trusting others may provide a protective benefit, lowering cortisol levels and buffering behaviors associated with long-term health like remaining socially connected, seeking medical care when needed, and sticking to healthful routines, Hafeez says. 'Trust isn't just a pleasant emotion, it's a potent psychological resource,' she explains. 'When nurtured over the course of a lifetime, it can contribute to both emotional resilience and physical longevity.'
Additionally, the study shows that the most important kind of trust is interpersonal (involving our family and friends), which has the strongest positive link to our well-being. 'With clients, one of the most important protective factors that can help with their healing process is having access to strong and positive social support systems, which is what this study confirms,' says Patrice Le Goy, PhD, licensed marriage and family therapist.
The study also notes trust is particularly important for older adults who may need to rely on—and trust—people more as they become limited in some activities, Le Goy points out. 'If they have these positive relationships where there is a strong sense of trust, they have higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction,' she says.
How Can We Increase Our Trust in Other People?
Despite the benefits, being more trusting of others can be a challenge, especially if people or institutions have broken your trust in the past. Fortunately, there are ways to help you become more trusting of others. Here are some tips from mental health experts.
Start Small
According to the study, trust can change based on our experiences and environment. According to Cynthia Vejar, PhD, professor of clinical mental health counseling at Lebanon Valley College, building trust starts small, in the presence of everyday initiatives and routine moments. For example, if a person has difficulty with trust, they might begin by noticing that their colleagues are reliable and dependable by showing up on time, following through on commitments, and working collaboratively. 'These kinds of observations can be reassuring and allow the person to begin to open up to deep and meaningful interactions elsewhere,' Vejar says.
Hafeez recommends observing how people show up over time. 'Do their actions match their words, do they listen without judgment, do they respect your boundaries?' she asks. 'Trust grows when people demonstrate reliability in small, everyday ways.'
Understand There's Risk Involved
Increasing trust with others is all about taking small, calculated risks, says Hannah Holmes, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Holmes Psychology & Consulting. 'There is always the possibility that others might hurt us or let us down, and this feels especially real if you have experienced a lot of that in your history,' she says.
Shift Your Mindset
Trusting others can be challenging and requires intentional mindset shifts, changes in our perspective, and continuous monitoring of our mood and self-regulation, says Tori Broems, PhD, licensed psychologist. 'People's well-being influences the way they perceive the world around them,' she says. 'Essentially, our perception of reality holds tremendous weight. When we are happy and positive, we are more trusting, whereas when we are negative and frustrated, we feel less likely to trust others.'
Examine Why You Have a Hard Time With Trust
Often people who have a difficult time trusting people have good reasons for feeling this way—they've probably been let down by people in their past who they wanted to trust, Le Goy says. 'The work is often in acknowledging and validating that fact first, and understanding our reasons for behaving the way we do,' she explains. 'Once we do that, then we can make sure that we are not using these past hurts to project on people who didn't cause that pain.'
Le Goy often asks clients, 'Does this past pain belong in this current relationship?' 'This allows us to consider that we can be safe now even if we have been unsafe in the past,' she says. 'It's actually about helping us trust ourselves more—that we can make good decisions, and we can see if the person in front of us is trustworthy. Only then can we truly increase our trust in other people.'
Stay in the Present
Hafeez stresses the importance of staying grounded in the present rather than assuming someone new will behave like someone from your past. 'That takes self-awareness and patience, but it is possible,' she says. 'It also helps to strengthen your emotional boundaries. When you know you can speak up, walk away, or protect your peace, you feel less anxious about giving people a chance.'
Give People a Chance to Show They're Trustworthy
While it makes sense to practice some caution and not share everything with someone you've just met, you should at least give them the opportunity to demonstrate their trustworthiness, Holmes suggests. 'This could look a lot of different ways, ranging from sharing an embarrassing story to delegating a low-stakes task to someone else,' she says. 'Trusting others with small things gives them the opportunity to demonstrate trustworthiness, which in turn will help you build your trust in that person. It's okay for this process to take a little time.'
How Can We Strike a Balance Between Trust and Caution?
Trust is like a muscle that you build over time, Le Goy says. This involves trusting yourself and listening to your gut when something feels 'off.' Instead of blindly trusting—or distrusting—someone, Broems suggests trying realistic trust-building. Ask yourself whether this person follows through. Do their actions match their words? Can they handle your boundaries respectfully? 'You don't have to trust fast—just slowly building this over time can be helpful,' she says.
Striking the right balance between trust and caution might mean that the person starts off more discerning, and with time, they become more open and trusting, Vejar says. 'It is important to note that 'discernment' is different from 'cynicism,' the latter of which might prevent the development of trust,' she explains. 'While both discernment and cynicism involve caution and protection, discernment is more observant—open to information as it unfolds—and cynicism is more suspicious and negative.'
Ultimately, striking a healthy balance between trust and caution means learning to stay open without being naive, Hafeez says. 'It is not about trusting everyone equally, it is about being emotionally available while also using discernment,' she says. 'Trust should be something people earn through their actions—not something you give away all at once.'
Read the original article on Real Simple