Perceived Parental Moral Disengagement and Academic Integrity: Mediational Role of Moral Identity of University Students

Abstract

Academic integrity has appeared as a substantial concern in higher education institutions worldwide, impacting the quality of educational outcomes. This study aimed to explore the mediational role of moral identity in the relationship between perceived parental (paternal and maternal separately) moral disengagement and academic integrity of university students. For the fulfillment of these aims, a sample of undergraduate university students (N = 299) was selected from twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Male students (n=140) and female students (n=159) with age range of 18-23 years (M =20.50, SD = 1.71) years were included. The self-report measures, including the Perceived Parental Moral Disengagement Induction Questionnaire, Moral Identity Questionnaire, and Academic Integrity Scale, were used. The results of Pearson product-moment correlations revealed a significant negative relationship between perceived parental (maternal and paternal) moral disengagement, moral identity, and academic integrity of university students. Furthermore, moral identity was found to be a significant positive mediator between perceived parental moral disengagement (tested separately for maternal and paternal models) and the academic integrity of university students. Moral identity positively predicted academic integrity in the mediational models, the indirect effect emerged as positive for the overall model for predicting academic integrity from perceived paternal and maternal moral disengagement of university students. Based upon these findings, the current study offers an implication for higher education institutions to design academic integrity plans and interventions that address not only institutional policies but also the moral and family-related factors that contribute to deceitful academic behaviors.

Keywords: paternal moral disengagement, maternal moral disengagement, moral identity, academic integrity, university students