Study finds children from poorer backgrounds are less likely to be assertive, talkative and enthusiastic

It found that a person’s personality and aspirations are strongly linked to their social background.

Those from more advantaged homes – whose parents worked in a professional job – were more likely to be assertive, talkative and enthusiastic, the traits of an extrovert, researchers at the Universities of Kent and Cambridge found.

They were also more likely to show high levels of openness, including imagination and intellectual curiosity.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, which published the research, said that the results showed the importance of building the aspirations of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and giving them the skills and qualities – such as confidence and enthusiasm – that they will need in the workplace.

The findings, based on an analysis of data on 150,000 UK residents gathered through the BBC’s Big Personality Test, goes on to show that adults who are more extroverted are more likely to earn higher salaries.

Overall, extroverted adults are 25% more likely to earn over £40,000 a year, with the odds higher for men than women, while those who are conscientious have around a 20% chance of gaining a high-paying job.

“For a variety of reasons, children from more advantaged backgrounds appear more likely to develop personality characteristics and aspirations which subsequently benefit them in the labour market,” the study says.

“There are likely to be many reasons for this, including the fact that children from lower income backgrounds are more likely to experience stress and instability at home.”

The study suggests that schools should work to improve poorer youngsters’ knowledge of professional careers, that schools should use good feedback to improve pupils’ social skills and that schools and colleges should give youngsters training in employability skills and interview techniques.

It also suggests that programmes aimed at improving results for poorer children should focus on wider skills as well as academic achievement.

Sir Peter said: “Our research shows that there is a clear correlation between social and other skills and earnings. We must therefore build the career aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and foster the more intangible qualities that they need to succeed and which are not taught in the curriculum such as confidence, aspiration, resilience and creativity.”

Study author Dr Robert de Vries, of Kent University, said: “We know that, in the UK, even more than in many other countries, a privileged upbringing is likely to lead to better grades at school, and a better chance at a successful career. But, along with the previous research we review, today’s analysis of the BBC Big Personality Test show that those from better off backgrounds have yet another advantage when it comes to non-academic factors like extraversion and career aspirations.”

The findings come amid growing calls for youngsters to be taught skills and abilities outside of lessons, such as character and grit.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has previously suggested that learning traits such as perseverance and confidence are “equally important” to teenagers as gaining good exam results, while in a speech earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron said that children “thrive on high expectations” and that schools can learn from new schools that will be teaching “character virtues like curiosity, honesty, perseverance and service”.