Psychological Development and Education ›› 2017, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (1): 65-75.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2017.01.08

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The Association between Psychological Abuse and Neglect and Adolescents' Aggressive Behavior: The Mediating and Moderating Role of the Moral Disengagement

SUN Lijun1,2, DU Hongqin2, NIU Gengfeng1, LI Junyi1, HU Xiangen1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education;School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079;
    2. Department of Psychology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 473000
  • Online:2017-01-15 Published:2017-01-15

Abstract: Based on the General Aggression Model(GAM) and individual-contex model, the present study examined the association between psychological abuse and neglect and adolescent' aggression behavior, as well as the role of moral disengagement. A sample of 696 adolescents completed the Psychological Abuse and Neglect Scale, Adolescent Moral Disengagement Scale and Aggressive Behavior Scale. Results revealed that:(1) Psychological abuse and neglect was positively correlated with aggressive behavior and moral disengagement, and moral disengagement was also positively correlated with aggressive behavior. (2) Moral disengagement played a partially mediating role in the association between psychological abuse and neglect and aggressive behavior;No significant gender difference in the mediating effect was observed,but significant age difference was observed. Moral disengagement played a partially mediating role among middle school students,and played a fully mediating role among high school students.(3) The moderating role of moral disengagement in the association between psychological abuse and neglect and aggressive behavior was insignificant.Significant gender difference in the moderating role was found,but significant age difference was not observed. The moderating role of moral disengagement was insignificant among male students,but significant among female students.

Key words: adolescents, psychological abuse and neglect, moral disengagement, aggressive behavior

CLC Number: 

  • B844

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