The bidirectional relationship between perceived social support and moral sensitivity in adolescents: Evidence from longitudinal study and weekly diary method

Introduction: Moral sensitivity, the ability to perceive moral issues, plays a crucial role in societal development and progress. Previous studies have highlighted the significance of perceived social support as a key factor influencing moral sensitivity.

Method: Based on the conservation of resources theory, this pioneering study investigates the association between perceived social support and moral sensitivity at both trait and state levels, employing a longitudinal study and a weekly diary method. In Study 1, the relationship between perceived social support and moral sensitivity was examined across two waves (T1 and T2) with 454 adolescents, spaced at 1-year intervals. Study 2 utilized a weekly diary method to observe 109 adolescents over a 7-week period.

Results: Study 1 revealed that (1) T1 perceived social support positively predicted T2 moral sensitivity, while (2) T1 moral sensitivity did not positively predict T2 perceived social support. Study 2 demonstrated that: (1) weekly perceived social support positively predicted weekly moral sensitivity, and (2) weekly moral sensitivity also positively predicted weekly perceived social support.

Conclusion: In summary, our findings indicate that over an extended period, perceived social support predicts moral sensitivity. Additionally, in the short term, a bidirectional predictive relationship exists between perceived social support and moral sensitivity. These findings bridge an academic gap and offer crucial theoretical insights into the development of individual moral sensitivity from the perspective of perceived social support.