Agentive steadfastness as trait marker in relation to temperament and character

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Agentive steadfastness was identified as a potential trait marker with which to anticipate prognostically that a patient will persevere steadfastly and take congruent action in facing the demands of living. Taken as an enduring expression of personality, this study investigated agentive steadfastness among adult social media respondents (n = 511) in relation to temperament and character as captured in Cloninger's psychobiological model of personality. METHODS : Participants recruited though snowball sampling on social media platforms, applied the 27-item Agentive Steadfastness Index (ASI) and the 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R-240). RESULTS : Agentive steadfastness was statistically predicted by the Self-directedness (β = 0.634), Self-transcendence (β = 0.119), Harm Avoidance (β = -0.142) and the Reward Dependence (β = 0.071) scales, accounting for 63.3 % of the variance in one stepwise regression model. In another stepwise model for the TCI-R-240 subscales, the Purposeful (β = 0.359), Anticipatory Worry (β = -0.353), and the Responsibility (β = 0.259) subscales accounted for respectively 56.8 %, 11.2 % and 2.8 % of the variance in ASI scores. LIMITATIONS : Results are limited to adult social media respondents who were willing to participate. CONCLUSIONS : Agentive steadfastness may serve as a trait marker of well-being and the good prognostic associations that have been established for high self-directedness, low harm avoidance, as well as resilience, and character strengths. It may be assessed clinically to anticipate prognostically the extent to which a patient will persevere steadfastly and take congruent action in facing the demands of living and adversity.