Religiosity and Adolescent Empathy and Aggression: The Mediating Role of Moral Identity

The mechanism by which adolescent religiosity might yield positive interactions with others remains unclear. This study examined moral identity as a mediator between adolescent religiosity and adolescent empathy and aggression. Participants were 502 adolescents (10-18 years) who completed an online survey. Structural equation models assessed links between religiosity (commitment and involvement) and interpersonal relationships (aggression and empathy), as well as the role of moral identity as a mediator, and the potential interactions between the two facets of religiosity. The study found indirect relationships between religious commitment and aggression and empathy by way of moral identity. Religious commitment was also directly related to empathy. Additionally, religious commitment and involvement interacted in predicting moral identity. Findings suggest that moral identity may be one mechanism by which religiosity leads to positive social interactions. Further, it may be that religious commitment and religious involvement interact in a way that together more synergistically promote positive development.