Shek Daniel T L, Zhu Xiaoqin
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
Front Psychol. 2019 Mar 6;10:528. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00528. eCollection 2019.
Defining moral competence using a virtue approach, this longitudinal study examined the prospective relationships between moral competence and externalizing behavior indexed by delinquency and intention to engage in problem behavior in a large and representative sample of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. Starting from the 2009-2010 academic year, Grade 7 students in 28 randomly selected secondary schools in Hong Kong were invited to join a longitudinal study, which surveyed participating students annually during the high school years. The current study used data collected in the first 3 years (Wave 1 to Wave 3) across junior secondary school stage (Grades 7-9) with a sample of 3,328 students (Age = 12.59 ± 0.74 years and 52.1% boys at Wave 1). Cross-lagged panel path analyses were conducted to compare four models involving different hypothesized patterns of relationships between moral competence and externalizing behavior. Results revealed that the reciprocal effects model best fit the data, supporting reciprocal causal relationships between moral competence and externalizing behavior measures. Specifically, a higher level of moral competence significantly predicted a lower level of delinquency and problem behavioral intention over time. At the same time, a higher level of externalizing behavior also significantly predicted a lower level of moral competence 1 year later. As the magnitudes of the significant findings were not high, replications in different Chinese communities are needed. Nevertheless, the present findings provide important theoretical insights on how moral competence and externalizing behavior in adolescents are associated with each other. Practically speaking, the findings suggest that it is promising to reduce adolescent externalizing behavior by promoting their virtues through moral education programs, and guiding adolescents to behave in a good manner would help promote the development of their virtues.
本纵向研究采用美德方法定义道德能力，在一个具有代表性的香港华裔青少年大样本中，考察了道德能力与以外化行为（以犯罪行为和参与问题行为的意图为指标）之间的前瞻性关系。从2009 - 2010学年开始，邀请香港28所随机选取的中学的七年级学生参与一项纵向研究，该研究在高中阶段每年对参与学生进行调查。本研究使用了初中阶段（七年级至九年级）前三年（第一波至第三波）收集的数据，样本为3328名学生（第一波时年龄 = 12.59 ± 0.74岁，男生占52.1%）。进行了交叉滞后面板路径分析，以比较涉及道德能力与外化行为之间不同假设关系模式的四个模型。结果显示，相互效应模型最符合数据，支持道德能力与外化行为测量之间的相互因果关系。具体而言，随着时间推移，较高水平的道德能力显著预测较低水平的犯罪行为和问题行为意图。同时，较高水平的外化行为也显著预测一年后较低水平的道德能力。由于显著结果的幅度不高，需要在不同的华人社区进行重复研究。尽管如此，本研究结果为青少年的道德能力与外化行为如何相互关联提供了重要的理论见解。实际上，研究结果表明，通过道德教育计划促进青少年的美德来减少青少年外化行为是有前景的，引导青少年举止得体有助于促进他们美德的发展。
