Moral development and psychopathological interference in conscience functioning among adolescents after XXXX .

@entity1 @entity130 @entity1005
OBJECTIVES: To compare moral development and psychopathological interference with conscience functioning (PI) among adolescents exposed to different degrees of earthquake-related @entity130 and to investigate the relationship of moral development and PI to exposure to @entity130 , severity of @entity1005 ( @entity1005 ) symptoms, postearthquake adversities, and extent of loss of nuclear family members. METHOD: Adolescents (N = 193) from 2 cities at different distances from the epicenter were evaluated. The Stilwell Structured Conscience Interview was used to assess moral development and PI. Structured self-report instruments were used to obtain ratings of severity of earthquake-related @entity130 , posttraumatic stress symptoms, and postearthquake adversities. RESULTS: Adolescents in the city near the epicenter manifested advanced moral development as compared with their counterparts in the less affected city. Concomitantly, they endorsed responses indicating PI. Levels of PI were significantly correlated with severity of @entity1005 symptoms. CONCLUSION: In the aftermath of a catastrophic natural disaster, @entity1 assume greater responsibilities and confront a multitude of morally challenging interpersonal situations which may result in an advancement of their moral development. Yet, at the same time, @entity1005 symptoms and negative schematizations of self and others may give rise to disturbances in conscience functioning. The findings suggest that therapeutic consideration should be given to assisting @entity1 in integrating the horror of their traumatic experiences and the harshness of posttrauma adversities into an adaptive schema of good and evil in themselves and the world.
