Relationship between Moral Identity and Emotional Well- Being: Mediating Role of Self-Deception

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of self-deception in the relationship between moral identity and emotional well-being. The participants were 320 (170 women and 150 Men) undergraduate students from Shiraz University which were selected via random cluster sampling method, and completed the self- deception questionnaire of Sirvent et al. (2019), moral identity scale of Aquino & Reed (2002), and emotional well- being scale of Keyes & Magyar-Moe (2003). The validity and reliability of the research scales were also verified by confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. To test the research hypothesis, path analysis were used. The findings showed that the research model fited well with the data collected. Also, the results showed a negative and statistically significant relationship between the dimensions of moral identity and self-deception, a negative and statistically significant relationship between self-deception and emotional well-being, a positive and statistically significant relationship between internalization and emotional well-being. There was no statistically significant relationship between symbolization and emotional well-being. The mediating role of self-deception was also confirmed. In general, the findings of the present study indicated the importance of paying attention to the self-deception influence of moral identity and affecting students' emotional well-being. The results are discussed based on research and theoretical evidence.