Shahid Beheshti University Applied Psychology 2008-4331 19 1 2025 03 21 The Mediating Role of Effortful Control in the Relationship between Moral Identity and Antisocial Behaviors in Adolescents The Mediating Role of Effortful Control in the Relationship between Moral Identity and Antisocial Behaviors in Adolescents 151 175 105341 10.48308/apsy.2025.237809.1735 FA Sara Taravian MSc in educational psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran 0000-0002-3545-4366 Fariborz Nikdel Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran 0000-0001-6856-5452 Ali Taghvaei Nia Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran 0000-0002-2534-7583 Journal Article 2024 12 02 Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of effortful control in the relationship between moral identity and antisocial behaviors in adolescents. Method: The statistical population included all high school students in Shiraz City during the 2022–2023 academic year. A sample of 567 students was selected using a multi-stage random cluster method. Questionnaires on moral identity (Aquino & Reed, 2002), effortful control (Ellis & Rothbart, 2001), and antisocial behaviors (Burt & Donnellan, 2009) were distributed among them. All analyses were performed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 24 software. The proposed model was evaluated using path analysis. Results: The findings indicated that the proposed model fits the data well. The path coefficients from moral identity to effortful control (p = 0.000, β = -0.50), from effortful control to antisocial behaviors (p = 0.000, β = -1.13), and from moral identity to antisocial behaviors (p = 0.009, β = -0.30) were significant at the 0.01 level. Additionally, other findings showed that effortful control mediates the relationship between moral identity and antisocial behaviors (p = 0.000, β = -0.25) at the 0.01 level. Conclusion: Strengthening moral identity along with effortful control can lead to a reduction in antisocial behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended to pay special attention to the concepts of effortful control and moral identity to reduce antisocial behaviors. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of effortful control in the relationship between moral identity and antisocial behaviors in adolescents. Method: The statistical population included all high school students in Shiraz City during the 2022–2023 academic year. A sample of 567 students was selected using a multi-stage random cluster method. Questionnaires on moral identity (Aquino & Reed, 2002), effortful control (Ellis & Rothbart, 2001), and antisocial behaviors (Burt & Donnellan, 2009) were distributed among them. All analyses were performed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 24 software. The proposed model was evaluated using path analysis. Results: The findings indicated that the proposed model fits the data well. The path coefficients from moral identity to effortful control (p = 0.000, β = -0.50), from effortful control to antisocial behaviors (p = 0.000, β = -1.13), and from moral identity to antisocial behaviors (p = 0.009, β = -0.30) were significant at the 0.01 level. Additionally, other findings showed that effortful control mediates the relationship between moral identity and antisocial behaviors (p = 0.000, β = -0.25) at the 0.01 level. Conclusion: Strengthening moral identity along with effortful control can lead to a reduction in antisocial behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended to pay special attention to the concepts of effortful control and moral identity to reduce antisocial behaviors.

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