Onderzoek onder Nederlandse adolescenten naar de invloed van sociale angst, middelengebruik en delinquentie op moreel begrip en moreel commitment. De verschillen tussen jongens en meisjes

Abstract

Introduction This study presents an analysis of the effects of social anxiety, substance use, and delinquency on moral reasoning and moral commitment, taking into account gender. Method1509 Adolescents have filled in self report questionnaires, including the SCARED which is used to measure anxiety. The adolescents derived from different high schools in the Netherlands (HAVO and VWO). The age of the adolescents ranges from 12 to 25 years. Results Hierarchical regression analyses delivered no significant interaction effects of gender with social anxiety, substance use, and delinquency, respectively on moral understanding and moral commitment. There is a significant main effect of social anxiety and delinquency on moral understanding, suggesting that high social anxiety and high delinquency leads to less moral understanding. There is also a significant effect of gender on moral understanding and moral commitment, suggesting that girls dispose of higher moral understanding and higher moral commitment. Conclusion and discussion The results of this study conform to previous studies. Though, more investigation is needed for acquiring a clear insight into the effects of social anxiety, substance use, and delinquency on moral understanding and moral commitment.