The Relationship of Perceived Family Dynamics to Adolescents' Principled Moral Reasoning

Abstract

There is limited research that addresses the importance offamily factors in the development of principled moral reasoning. To determine whether a relationship indeed existed between family adaptability and cohesion and principled moral reasoning, a sample of 131 middle adolescents was measured on moral reasoning level (using the Defining Issues Test) and levels of perceived family adaptability and cohesion (using Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales). No significant relationships were found between adaptability and the use of principled moral reasoning; however, family cohesion did correlate (but only with males) with percentages of principled moral reasoning. Satisfaction with levels offamily cohesion andfamily adaptability also was significantly related to moral development in males. In addition, there were interaction effects of cohesion and adaptability, suggesting that moderate levels of cohesion, in combination with either high or low levels of adaptability, were related to higher levels of principled moral reasoning.