MORAL REASONING ABOUT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES.
Contributors: University of Wisconsin--Madison.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 191
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Developmental.; Education, Health.
Description: Increasingly, nurses are called upon to develop and implement educational programs for adolescents and young adults to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Because high risk sexual behaviors continue among people in young age groups, there is a need to use novel approaches to examine how persons think about risky sexual situations. One such approach is to use moral reasoning frameworks to examine how persons think about situations where the transmission of STDs is possible. Two moral reasoning frameworks were used to guide this study: Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development and Gilligan's theoretical perspectives on Moral Orientation.

The purpose of this research was to investigate moral reasoning and judgments related to sexual behavior that could lead to the transmission of STDs. Using realistic hypothetical vignettes about individuals in sexual dilemmas, respondents were asked to explain why they believe the characters should or should not engage in risky behaviors. Forty college freshmen (M = 18.3 years) and thirty-four college seniors (M = 22.3 years) participated. In each interview, participants discussed four hypothetical dilemmas about situations in which STDs can be transmitted. The oral interviews were scored for both stage of moral reasoning and moral orientation (justice or care).

Results of statistical analyses indicated that 22-year-old respondents had a higher stage of moral reasoning than 18-year-olds when responding to dilemmas about STDs. The younger group reasoned at a Stage 2/3 level whereas the older group reasoned at a Stage 3 or Stage 3/4 level. There were no gender differences in stage of moral reasoning. Regardless of age or gender, persons used both care and justice reasoning. Contrary to Gilligan's theoretical claims, women did not use a care orientation to a greater extent than men. Other explanatory variables (knowledge about STDs, experience with sexual intercourse, and presence of an intimate relationship) were not related to level of moral reasoning or to predominant moral orientation.

Current educational messages should be enhanced to include information consistent with higher levels of thinking. Also, interventions should include placing information about STDs within the context of relationships and interpersonal interaction, regardless of gender.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-09, Section: B, page: 4591.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON, 1992.

School code: 0262.