Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality

Based on the six-wave data collected from Grade 7 to Grade 12 students (N = 3,328 at Wave 1), this pioneer study examined the development of problem behaviors (risk and delinquent behavior and problem behavioral intention) and the predictors (moral competence and spirituality) among adolescents in H...

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Main Authors: Daniel T. L. Shek, Xiaoqin Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00430/full
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spelling doaj-a8f6b14b763e4eab996d099c7222f9f12020-11-24T22:53:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782018-03-01910.3389/fpsyg.2018.00430362949Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and SpiritualityDaniel T. L. Shek0Daniel T. L. Shek1Daniel T. L. Shek2Daniel T. L. Shek3Daniel T. L. Shek4Daniel T. L. Shek5Xiaoqin Zhu6Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong KongCentre for Innovation Programmes for Adolescents and Families, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong KongDepartment of Social Work, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaKiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau, ChinaHong Kong Institute of Service Leadership & Management Limited, Wanchai, Hong KongDivision of Adolescent Medicine, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong KongBased on the six-wave data collected from Grade 7 to Grade 12 students (N = 3,328 at Wave 1), this pioneer study examined the development of problem behaviors (risk and delinquent behavior and problem behavioral intention) and the predictors (moral competence and spirituality) among adolescents in Hong Kong. Individual growth curve models revealed that while risk and delinquent behavior accelerated and then slowed down in the high school years, adolescent problem behavioral intention slightly accelerated over time. After controlling the background socio-demographic factors, moral competence and spirituality were negatively associated with risk and delinquent behavior as well as problem behavioral intention across all waves as predicted. Regarding the rate of change in the outcome measures, while the initial level of spirituality was positively linked to the growth rate of risk and delinquent behavior, the initial level of moral competence was negatively associated with the growth rate of problem behavioral intention. The theoretical and practical implications of the present findings are discussed with reference to the role of moral competence and spirituality in the development of adolescent problem behavior.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00430/fulldelinquent behaviorlongitudinal studydevelopmental trajectorydevelopmental assetChinese adolescents
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Xiaoqin Zhu
spellingShingle Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Xiaoqin Zhu
Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality
Frontiers in Psychology
delinquent behavior
longitudinal study
developmental trajectory
developmental asset
Chinese adolescents
author_facet Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Daniel T. L. Shek
Xiaoqin Zhu
author_sort Daniel T. L. Shek
title Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality
title_short Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality
title_full Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality
title_fullStr Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality
title_full_unstemmed Self-Reported Risk and Delinquent Behavior and Problem Behavioral Intention in Hong Kong Adolescents: The Role of Moral Competence and Spirituality
title_sort self-reported risk and delinquent behavior and problem behavioral intention in hong kong adolescents: the role of moral competence and spirituality
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Psychology
issn 1664-1078
publishDate 2018-03-01
description Based on the six-wave data collected from Grade 7 to Grade 12 students (N = 3,328 at Wave 1), this pioneer study examined the development of problem behaviors (risk and delinquent behavior and problem behavioral intention) and the predictors (moral competence and spirituality) among adolescents in Hong Kong. Individual growth curve models revealed that while risk and delinquent behavior accelerated and then slowed down in the high school years, adolescent problem behavioral intention slightly accelerated over time. After controlling the background socio-demographic factors, moral competence and spirituality were negatively associated with risk and delinquent behavior as well as problem behavioral intention across all waves as predicted. Regarding the rate of change in the outcome measures, while the initial level of spirituality was positively linked to the growth rate of risk and delinquent behavior, the initial level of moral competence was negatively associated with the growth rate of problem behavioral intention. The theoretical and practical implications of the present findings are discussed with reference to the role of moral competence and spirituality in the development of adolescent problem behavior.
topic delinquent behavior
longitudinal study
developmental trajectory
developmental asset
Chinese adolescents
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00430/full
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