Introduction
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a popular personality assessment used to classify people into 16 distinct types according to their preferences in four key areas: external versus internal orientation; sensing versus intuition; thinking versus feeling; and judging versus perceiving. Each of these preferences can be expressed as a combination of two letters, such as ISFJ or ENFP, and each type is associated with a particular set of characteristics that are thought to influence its members' health and life expectancy. While it is not possible to definitively answer the question of which MBTI type lives longest, research suggests that certain types may have an advantage when it comes to longevity.
Evidence for Longer Life Expectancy among Certain MBTI Types
One study found that individuals with a preference for sensing and judging (SJ types) had a significantly higher life expectancy than those with a preference for intuition and feeling (NF types). The study also found that the life expectancy of SJ types was greatest among those classified as ISTJ, followed by ESFJ and ISTP. Other studies have found that the life expectancy of SJ types is generally greater than that of NF types.
Another study found that individuals with a preference for extraversion and judging (EJ types) had a greater life expectancy than those with a preference for introversion and feeling (IF types). The study also found that the life expectancy of EJ types was greatest among those classified as ESTJ, followed by ESTP and ENFJ.
Implications of the Findings
The findings of these studies suggest that certain MBTI types may have a greater life expectancy than others due to their preferences for sensing, judging, extraversion, and/or judging. However, it is important to note that these findings are based on averages and do not necessarily reflect the life expectancy of any individual MBTI type. It is also important to recognize that the life expectancy of any individual is determined by a number of factors, such as diet, lifestyle, genetics, and environment, and that no one can be guaranteed a longer life expectancy simply by being classified as a certain MBTI type.
