Effects of Dispositional and Contextual Moral Sensitivity in Moral Decision-Making: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nursing Students

Aim: Based on Rest's Four Stage Model (moral sensitivity, moral judgement, moral intention and moral behaviour), we aim to compare the effects of dispositional moral sensitivity and contextual moral sensitivity on moral decision-making among nursing students.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: The participants were from nursing colleges in Shijiazhuang, Guangzhou and Chongqing, China. A total of 354 nursing students were recruited via the convenience sampling method. Data were collected via the dispositional moral sensitivity scale and a scenario experiment. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the relationships among the variables in the structural model via Mplus.

Results: While dispositional moral sensitivity and contextual moral sensitivity both influence moral intention, they do so in opposite directions. Moral judgement has a positive impact on moral intention and acts as a mediator between dispositional moral sensitivity/contextual moral sensitivity and moral intention.

Conclusion: This study compares the various influence paths and mechanisms of dispositional moral sensitivity and contextual moral sensitivity in moral decision-making, thereby advancing research on nursing ethics education.

Impact: Our findings suggest that nursing colleges should adopt diverse strategies to cultivate the dispositional moral sensitivity of nursing students, thus facilitating their ability to make moral decisions. These insights have valuable implications for the advancement of nursing ethics education.

Reporting method: We adhered to the STROBE guidelines.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.