The Mediating Role of Moral Apathy in the Relationship between Childhood Maltreatment and Peer Rejection with Conduct Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents

Behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence can be a background for delinquen - cy and antisocial behavior in adulthood. The present study aimed to determine the mediating role of disengagement in relationships between Childhood Maltreatment and Peer Rejection with Conduct Disorder Signs in Adolescents.

The method of this study is a descriptive correlation. The statisti - cal population of this research was all the students of the first and second courses of Urmia city in the academic year of 2019-2020. 220 people were selected by multi-stage random sampling method and to the self-report version of the abilities and problems questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha 0.78), childhood trauma scale (Cronbach’s alpha 0.83), peer social rejection scale (Cron - bach’s alpha 0.95) and apathy scale Ethical (Cronbach’s alpha 0.91) answered. For data analy - sis, structural equation modeling was used in the form of SmartPLS 3 software.

220 people with an average of 16.15 years and a standard deviation of 1.54 partici - pated in this research. The results of structural equation modeling showed that the direct path coefficients of childhood maltreatment (p<0.001; β=0.38) and moral apathy (p<0.001; β=0.40) were significant. Also, the direct path coefficients of childhood maltreatment (p<0.001; β=0.42) and peer rejection (p<0.01; β=0.23) on moral apathy were significant. In addition, childhood maltreatment and peer rejection had an indirect effect on conduct disorder symptoms through the mediation of moral apathy.

These results show that in addition to the direct effect of childhood maltreat - ment on conduct disorder symptoms, moral apathy acts as a mediator, and the effects of child - hood maltreatment and peer social rejection on conduct symptoms. The results of this study can be used in the design of preventive programs and early intervention in behavioral disor - ders.