Is Invulnerability a Mediator between Attachment and Moral Judgment?

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of invulnerability in the relationship between attachment and moral judgment among Serbian high school students. Some previous research has found a positive relationship between attachment and moral development, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms through which attachment dynamics contribute to moral judgment. Adolescents often exhibit a sense of invulnerability, perceiving themselves as immune to consequences or negative outcomes. This perception can impact their decision making, including the formation of ethical frameworks. Investigating how attachment experiences interact with invulnerability beliefs in shaping moral judgment provides insight into the psychological processes that underlie adolescents' moral decision-making. Data for the study were collected using an online questionnaire, including the Adolescent Invulnerability Scale (AIS), the Inventory of Peer and Parent Attachment – Revised (IPPA-R), and the Sociomoral Reflection Measure - Short Form Objective (SRM-SFO). A total of 407 high-school students participated in the study, 302 females, 93 males, and 12 missing. Age range was 14-19 years (M = 16.65, SD = 1.2). Regression analyses showed inconsistent results, thus the mediation model was not applicable. Invulnerability had a significant association with moral judgment, particularly danger invulnerability. Gender differences were found in regards to each construct and significantly impacted the relationships between attachment and moral judgment, as well as attachment and invulnerability.