Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study
This study investigates factors that predict adult literacy and numeracy using a large, stratified, and nationally representative sample of 5397 adults (48.6 % females) in the UK. Results showed that parental social status (at birth), childhood intelligence (at age 10), teenage internal locus of con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Acta Psychologica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005463 |
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| author | Adrian Furnham Helen Cheng |
| author_facet | Adrian Furnham Helen Cheng |
| author_sort | Adrian Furnham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates factors that predict adult literacy and numeracy using a large, stratified, and nationally representative sample of 5397 adults (48.6 % females) in the UK. Results showed that parental social status (at birth), childhood intelligence (at age 10), teenage internal locus of control (at age 16), educational qualifications and occupational levels (at ages 26 and 30) were all significantly and positively associated with adult literacy and numeracy (at age 34). Structural equation modelling showed that childhood intelligence, teenage locus of control, malaise, and education and occupation all had significant and direct effects on adult literacy and numeracy, accounting for 53 % of the total variance. The strongest predictor of adult literacy and numeracy was childhood intelligence, followed by educational qualifications and teenage locus of control. Results revealed that the effect of parental social status on adult literacy and numeracy was mediated mainly through educational qualifications. Limitation in terms of self-report biases, attrition and some cross-sectional variables is acknowledged. Implications are considered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9aff1111b1fe4a71b2e147dbeeb9c488 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0001-6918 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Psychologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-9aff1111b1fe4a71b2e147dbeeb9c4882025-08-20T03:31:27ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-08-0125810523310.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105233Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort studyAdrian Furnham0Helen Cheng1BI: Department of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, Norwegian Business School, Nydalsveien 37, 0484 Oslo, Norway; Corresponding author.Independent ResearcherThis study investigates factors that predict adult literacy and numeracy using a large, stratified, and nationally representative sample of 5397 adults (48.6 % females) in the UK. Results showed that parental social status (at birth), childhood intelligence (at age 10), teenage internal locus of control (at age 16), educational qualifications and occupational levels (at ages 26 and 30) were all significantly and positively associated with adult literacy and numeracy (at age 34). Structural equation modelling showed that childhood intelligence, teenage locus of control, malaise, and education and occupation all had significant and direct effects on adult literacy and numeracy, accounting for 53 % of the total variance. The strongest predictor of adult literacy and numeracy was childhood intelligence, followed by educational qualifications and teenage locus of control. Results revealed that the effect of parental social status on adult literacy and numeracy was mediated mainly through educational qualifications. Limitation in terms of self-report biases, attrition and some cross-sectional variables is acknowledged. Implications are considered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005463Adult literacy and numeracyParental social status at birthChildhood intelligenceTeenage locus of controlEducational qualifications and occupational levels |
| spellingShingle | Adrian Furnham Helen Cheng Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study Acta Psychologica Adult literacy and numeracy Parental social status at birth Childhood intelligence Teenage locus of control Educational qualifications and occupational levels |
| title | Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study |
| title_full | Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study |
| title_short | Predicting adult literacy and numeracy: Findings from the British cohort study |
| title_sort | predicting adult literacy and numeracy findings from the british cohort study |
| topic | Adult literacy and numeracy Parental social status at birth Childhood intelligence Teenage locus of control Educational qualifications and occupational levels |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005463 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT adrianfurnham predictingadultliteracyandnumeracyfindingsfromthebritishcohortstudy AT helencheng predictingadultliteracyandnumeracyfindingsfromthebritishcohortstudy |