People Who Studied Abroad In College Usually Have 3 Traits That Make Them Mentally & Emotionally Strong
frantic00 | Shutterstock People who studied abroad in college actually share distinct traits that actively contribute to their mental and emotional strength for the rest of their lives. That's because it takes guts to up and leave everything you know when you've barely reached adulthood.
For students brave enough to leave their comfort zones, spending a year abroad is a great way to enrich their educational experience. Being immersed in a brand new culture is nothing short of wonderful. It not only opens their eyes to a much bigger world but also brings out their inner grit, giving them a leg up in confidence and self-esteem.
Traits people who studied abroad in college share that make them mentally and emotionally stronger than their peers:
1. They're more agreeable
A study published in The Journal of Research in Personality found that, compared with students who remained in their native country, students who studied abroad exhibited higher levels of agreeableness.
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In the Big 5 Personality model, people who exhibit higher levels of agreeableness are described as "friendly, patient, and cooperative, often prioritizing the needs of others and seeking to resolve conflicts amicably." In other words, they're highly adept at getting to know others and understanding human behavior without getting stressed out by it.
Whether it's bonding with the people in your traveling cohort or growing to appreciate the local culture, agreeableness is a trait that only adds to the experience and is proof that these students have emotional and mental strength beyond their years.
2. They're endlessly curious about everything
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In the same study, researchers found that the students who went abroad exhibited higher levels of curiosity. This was only intensified by the new environment they'd been exploring, as their brains literally had to stay open to constantly learning new information to navigate the unknown.
According to Jonathan Schooler, a psychology professor and researcher at UC Santa Barbara, "curiosity is a psychological super virtue," adding that "it’s linked with greater life satisfaction, stronger relationships, professional success, and even a longer lifespan."
When studying abroad, you have to stay curious in order to survive. You have to be open to hearing new information and learn the culture to know what's OK and what's not. This trait is absolutely crucial, and, as Schooler put it, it helps people stay alive much longer than those who don't have it.
3. They're less anxious about bad outcomes
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While researchers in the study also concluded that the students who studied abroad exhibited lower levels of anxiety, there has to be a little bit of faith involved. By that I mean that when you study abroad, you kind of need to throw caution to the wind as you explore somewhere so different from back home.
Believing in yourself and doing what's best for you regardless of what people tell you might be dangerous, but it's something that many study abroad-ers have to commit to. According to the team at StudyFinds, "It may be less about where students went and more about how they showed up each ordinary day once they got there."
Laura Dupont-Jarrett, Ph.D., L.P., a licensed psychologist and the University of Minnesota’s assistant director for education abroad mental health, found that, "[Students] learn that if they can thrive under the intercultural challenges, they have the resilience for many other future situations." Studying abroad literally teaches students that they can handle whatever life throws at them if they can study abroad safely and successfully.
Luke Aliga is a writer with a degree in Technical Writing and Communication who covers relationships, culture, astrology, and human interest topics.
