The Mediating Role of Vengeful Tendencies in the Relationship between Moral Identity and Effortful Control with Antisocial Behaviors in Adolescents

Background: Adolescence is a critical period for the onset of risky behaviors, including antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior, which peaks during adolescence, is costly to both society and the individual, hindering positive adolescent development. The consequences of adolescent antisocial behavior negatively impact not only society but also all those who interact with the individual. Understanding adolescent risk-taking and recognizing that antisocial behavior is a normal part of adolescence can make it easier to identify and prevent such behaviors. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of vengeful tendencies in the relationship between moral identity and effortful control with antisocial behaviors in adolescents in Shiraz, Iran. Method: The statistical population included all high school students. A sample of 567 participants was selected using a multistage cluster random sampling method. The questionnaires of moral identity (Aquino & Reed, 2002), effortful control (Ellis & Rothbart, 2001), vengeful tendencies (Flores-Camacho et al., 2022), and antisocial behaviors (Burt & Donnellan, 2009) were distributed among the participants. The proposed model was evaluated using path analysis. Results: The findings revealed that the direct path coefficients from effortful control to antisocial behavior, effortful control to vengeful tendencies, vengeful tendencies to antisocial behavior, and moral identity to vengeful tendencies were significant. However, the path coefficient from moral identity to antisocial behavior was not significant. Furthermore, regarding the indirect paths, the findings indicated that vengeful tendencies was significant in the relationship between moral identity and antisocial behavior and between effortful control and antisocial behavior. Conclusion: Therefore, it is recommended to consider educational programs focusing on strengthening moral identity and effortful control and reducing vengeful tendencies to prevent antisocial behavior of teenagers.