The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Environment in Childhood and Personality Traits

This study examined the relation between socioeconomic environment in childhood and personality traits in adulthood. Based on past findings (Adler et. al., 1993; Brooks-Gunn & Duncan, 1997), socioeconomic environment incorporated important for child development factors, such as learning resources, home environment, nutrition status, deprivation of resources and parenting styles. Data included Russian participants from 16-65 years-olds. Using canonical correlational analysis (CCA), the author found that socioeconomic conditions in childhood do affect personality in adulthood. Hierarchical regression analysis showed, that such factors as authoritative, authoritarian parenting styles, home environment and learning resources were particularly important for personality. Authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles were both associated with extraversion. Authoritative was also positively associated with agreeableness and conscientiousness. Home environment was positively associated with extraversion and negatively with agreeableness. Learning resources were also found to be influential for personality and were positively associated with agreeableness.