Early indicators of adult trait Agreeableness

• This was a longitudinal study following over 5000 British adults for 50 years.
• Our interest was in social class, intelligence and gender correlates of Agreeableness.
• Brighter females, with more education and from high SES backgrounds were more Agreeable.
• Structural equation modelling was used to explore various relationships.

This study used a longitudinal data set of 5199 adults followed for 50 years to determine the factors that influence adult trait Agreeableness. In a large, nationally representative sample in the UK (The National Child Development Study), data were collected at birth, in childhood (age 11), and adulthood (ages 33, 42, and 50) to examine the effects of family social background, childhood intelligence, educational and occupation attainment on the personality trait Agreeableness assessed at age 50. Results showed that parental social status, childhood intelligence, education, occupation, and gender were all significantly associated with trait Agreeableness. Structural equation modelling showed that childhood intelligence, education, occupation, and gender had the direct effects on trait Agreeableness, whilst family social status affected adult trait Agreeableness mainly through education and occupation. Gender was the strongest predictor of trait Agreeableness. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.