Luppo Kuillman

General Introduction 21 1 component of moral sensitivity) could not be reproduced by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). With the study presented in Chapter 2 however two novel dimensions derived from the MSQ items are introduced and named as MSQ-DELIB and MSQ- PATER, respectively operationalized as indicators of a moral deliberate attitude and paternalist attitude based on the outcomes of a robust confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Chapter 3 describes the outcomes of a structural equation modelling in which evidence is reported for the personality meta-trait Stability being a statistically significant direct predictor on the level of post-conventional moral reasoning. In this it examines antecedents of moral reasoning as the second component of Rest’s FCM. Furthermore, it was found that the statistically significant relationship between the personality meta-trait Stability and the post-conventional level of moral reasoning is explained by a lower propensity to morally disengage among highly stable people. Chapter 4 reports about the outcomes of a moderation analysis. In the relationship between Ethics Advocacy, as an indicator of the third component ‘Moral Motivation’ of the FCM, and the propensity of reporting reprehensible conduct in care, behavioral control targeted at preventing harm is strengthening that relationship. Chapter 5 delineates a similar analysis as conducted in the study being reported about in Chapter 4, but in Chapter 5 it was attempted to validate the predictive value of the MSQ-DELIB and MSQ-PATER as explanatory variables towards a novel construct introduced as ‘Yielding to pressure’. The major finding of this study is that individuals with a highly morally deliberate attitude are more at risk for yielding to pressure and therewith have a tendency of deviating from the rules and regulations within a direct clinician-patient interaction, whereas this does not account for situations when the pressure is perceived from the direct working environment. The main findings of my doctoral research as reported in the previous mentioned chapters are summarized in Chapter 6 with the view to opening a venue for future directions regarding possible supplementary research.