Social Beliefs and Foundations for Moral Choice as Predictors of Civic Identity in Adolescence

Objective. The analysis of social beliefs and the foundations for moral choice as predictors of the civic identity of adolescents.
Background. Despite the expressed interest of researchers in the patterns of formation of civic identity in adolescence, at this stage there is no unambiguous data on the influence of social beliefs and foundations for moral choice on the civic identity of Russian adolescents.
Study design. A comparative and correlation analysis was carried out to describe the characteristics of the respondents' social beliefs, foundations for moral choice and civic identity. Using the structural equation modeling method, predictors of the civic identity of adolescents of different genders were identified (taking into account their age and gender).
Participants. The sample consisted of 424 respondents aged 14–18 years, including 189 boys and 235 girls. The study participants are students of schools, colleges and higher educational institutions in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region.
Measurements. The following methods were used in the study: "Social axioms" by M. Bond and K. Leung in the adaptation by A.N. Tatarko and N.M. Lebedeva, the scale "Faith in a just world" by K. Dalbert in the adaptation by S.K. Nartova-Bochaver and N.B. Astanina, the method "Moral foundations" by J. Graham and J. Haidt, adapted by O.V. Sychev et al., "The Valence of Civic Identity" by N.M. Lebedeva and A.N. Tatarko.
Results. According to the obtained model (χ2 = 110, df = 43, p < 0,01, CFI = 0,88, RMSEA = 0,06), positive predictors of civic identity in adolescents are the basis of moral choice "Loyalty", social axioms "Reward for efforts" and "Control over fate"; indicators of the foundation for moral choice make a negative contribution "Justice" and "Respect", and the influence of the latter weakens as teenagers grow up. Specific predictors of the civic identity of adolescent girls are the individual foundation for moral choice ("Care" and "Justice"), as well as the social axioms "Social complexity" and "Reward for efforts"; for adolescent boys, the specific predictors of civic identity turned out to be the social axiom "Social cynicism", as well as "Loyalty" as a rallying factor a moral foundation.
Conclusions. The structure of predictors of civic identity, represented by social axioms and the foundations of moral choice, partially differs for male and female adolescents, and also changes slightly as adolescents grow up.

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