Psychosocial Antecedents and Outcomes of Morality in Adolescents

Abstract

The study was designed to explore the effect of psychosocial antecedents of morality including religious orientation, parent and peer attachment, and locus of control on the life satisfaction and delinquency among adolescents. Morality is defined and measured using the four component theory of morality by Rest (1999). Rest identified four inner psychological processes (i.e., moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character) that together give rise to outwardly observable behavior. Based on a thorough review of the literature on morality, it was hypothesized that religious orientation, parent and peer attachment, and internal locus of control are positive predictors of morality, and a boost in morality may result in greater life satisfaction and a decline in delinquent behavior among adolescent. Hence, the study aimed to address the mediating role of morality for positive outcome i.e., life satisfaction negative outcome i.e., delinquency. Moreover, it was also assumed that social support moderates the relationship between antecedents and outcomes of morality. Adolescents with age ranging from 15 years to 19 years from different provinces of Pakistan participated in the study. The research consisted of study 1 (pilot study) and study 2 (main study). Study 1 was designed to develop and validate a comprehensive instrument of morality based on the Rest (1999) four component theory of morality. Further, study 1 also aimed at translating and validating the English language instruments into Urdu language including the Social Support Scale (CAS-9) and the Inventory for Parent and Peer Attachment Revised (IPPA-R). For development of the comprehensive instrument of morality, initially 180 items were generated based on extensive review of relevant literature. Subject matter experts screened the items for content relevance (content validity) and language comprehension. At this stage the CAS-9 and IPPA-R were also translated into Urdu using the backward translation method by Brislin (1970). After finalization of the instruments, pilot study was conducted on a sample of n = 212 (male = 143, female = 66). Construct validity of the newly developed instrument was determined using parallel analyses and exploratory factor analyses. Factorial validity of the all other instrument including the translated instruments was estimated using confirmatory factor analyses. Study 1 was concluded with x validation and psychometric evaluation of the instruments. Further, study 1 also supported the effectiveness of the instruments by showing pattern of relationships among variables in expected directions. Study 2 was mainly carried out to test the hypothesized relationship and the conceptual model of the study. The sample consisted n = 706 (male = 303, female = 396). Before testing the hypotheses, confirmatory factor analysis were conducted for the newly developed instrument of morality. Findings of the main study showed that religious orientation (intrinsic/extrinsic), parent and peer attachment, and locus of control are positively predicted morality and life satisfaction, and negatively predicted delinquency. All the four components of morality (moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation, and moral character) significantly mediated the relationship between antecedents of morality including religious orientation, parent and peer attachment, and locus of control and the outcomes of morality including life satisfaction, and delinquency. Further, analyses showed that moral judgment, and moral character components are the stronger mediator for life satisfaction in comparison to moral sensitivity, and moral motivation. On the other hand, the mediating role of moral sensitivity, moral judgment, and moral character emerged as important to reduce delinquency in adolescents in comparison to moral motivation. Social support significantly moderated the effect of powerful other components of the locus of control on moral sensitivity and moral motivation. In terms of demographic variables, findings depicted that males are higher as compared to females in terms of religious orientation, parent and peer attachment, internal locus of control, morality, life satisfaction, and delinquency as well. In the end, findings are discussed with reference to preceding literature and its possible implications in Pakistani society. Future recommendations and limitations of the present research are also reported.