Moral reasoning explained by personality traits and moral disengagement: A study among Dutch nurse practitioners and physician assistants

Aim To explore the direct and indirect effect of the personality meta‐traits ‘Stability’ and ‘Plasticity’ on moral reasoning among nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs). Background Moral reasoning is influenced by being prone to moral disengagement and personality traits. Moral disengagement is observed among professionals in many fields, including healthcare providers. Moral disengagement is known to be provoked by environmental stressors and influenced by certain personality traits. Design A cross‐sectional approach was used including self‐report questionnaires. Methods A convenience sample of Dutch NPs (N = 67) and PAs (N = 88) was surveyed via online questionnaires between January and March 2015, using (a) the Defining Issues Test; (b) the BIG five inventory; and (c) the Moral Disengagement Scale. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed for estimating the construct validity of two meta‐traits of personality and to test unidirectional influences on moral reasoning. Results Only the Stability trait was a direct predictor of moral reasoning whereas both Stability and Plasticity were precursors of moral disengagement. Both personality meta‐traits had statistically significant indirect effects on moral reasoning through a low level of moral disengagement. The influence of both personality traits on the level of moral reasoning was increased by strong self‐censure on entering into morally disengaged interactions. Conclusion The personality meta‐trait ‘Stability’ is an indicator of moral reasoning and is explained by a lower propensity to morally disengage among highly stable people. Although the meta‐trait Plasticity exerts an indirect effect through moral disengagement on moral reasoning, it is not a direct indicator of moral reasoning. 目的 探讨人格元特质中”稳定性”和”可塑性”对执业护士和助理医师道德理性的直接和间接影响。 背景 道德理性受道德推脱倾向和人格特质的影响。许多领域的专业人员,包括医疗保健提供者,都存在道德推脱现象。众所周知,道德推脱由环境压力引起,并受某些人格特征的影响。 设计 采用横断面方法,包括自我报告问卷。 方法 2015年1月至3月间,通过在线问卷对荷兰执业护士(N = 67)和助理医师(N = 88)进行调查。问卷采用了(a)界定问题测验,(b)五大问卷,(c)道德推脱量表。运用结构方程模型(SEM)对人格两个元特质的结构有效性进行了评估,并检验了单向性对道德理性的影响。 结果 只有稳定性特征是道德理性的直接预测因子,稳定性和可塑性是道德推脱的先兆。两种人格元特质都通过较低水平的道德推脱对道德理性产生了具有统计学意义的间接影响。两种人格特质对道德理性水平的影响都由强烈的自我谴责导致。 结论 人格元特质”稳定性”是道德理性的一个指标。高度稳定的人具有较低的道德推脱倾向。虽然可塑性这一元特质会通过道德推脱对道德理性产生间接影响,但并不是道德理性的直接指标。