Does childhood adversity make adolescents more morally disengaged? The effect of life history strategy and self-compassion

Childhood adversity may place adolescents at risk for moral disengagement. Drawing on evolutionary life history theory, this study aims to examine the underexplored relationship between childhood adversity and moral disengagement in Chinese adolescents as well as to explore the mediating role of life history strategy and the moderating role of self-compassion in the focal relationship. In Study 1, a total of 5089 adolescents were recruited and they finished a set of questionnaires concerning childhood adversity, life history strategy, self-compassion, and moral disengagement. A positive association was found between childhood adversity and moral disengagement via life history strategy, and this mediation effect was much weaker for adolescents who have high self-compassion. In Study 2, a total of 1890 adolescents initially participated in a three-wave longitudinal survey to validate the model obtained in Study 1. Childhood adversity increased adolescents' subsequent moral disengagement by accelerating their life history strategies, and self-compassion buffered the relatively long-lasting detrimental effects of childhood adversity. This work not only advances our understanding of the significant role of childhood adversity in causing moral disengagement among adolescents but also offers valuable insights into implementing appropriate preventions and interventions to reduce moral disengagement in adolescents and promote their positive development.