The mediating role of moral reasoning in the relationship between emotional intelligence and the Bystander behavior of Bullying

In today’s world, where social environments are changing exponentially, social skills play an essential role in the mediating process between emotional intelligence factors and individuals’ performance. The present study aims to investigate the mediating role of moral reasoning in the relationship between emotional intelligence and behavior in bystanders to bullying.

This correlational research is of structural equation model type. The target population consisted of male and female secondary school students in Khorram Abad, Lorestan in the academic year of 2022-23. The study population consisted of 310 students, who were selected through cluster sampling. Data collection tools included the Defining Issues Test (The DIT, Rest et al.), Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) and the Participant Role Questionnaire (PRS, Salmivalli et al.). Data analysis was done using structural equation model and Smart PLS 3.

Ethical Considerations: 

Ethical standards were observed, including explaining the purpose of the research, anonymity, data confidentiality, voluntary participation and obtaining informed consents from the participants.

The results of the current research indicated that all significance coefficients (t-value) were greater than 1.96, R2 values for the endogenous components of the research belonged to the range of 0.53 to 0.93 and the results of Q2 values for all model structures belonged to the range of 27. 0 to 0.61, which shows the significance of all the relationships between components at the confidence level of 95%. Based on the results, emotional intelligence has a positive and significant effect on moral reasoning and behavior in bystanders to bullying. Furthermore, the results indicated that the significance number and the indirect coefficient are equal to 8.26 and 0.45, respectively, which means that moral reasoning plays a mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and behavior in bystanders to bullying (P<0.05).

The research findings showed that there is a significant relationship between emotional intelligence and behavior in bystanders to bullying. The results of the equation model indicated that students' moral reasoning can play a significant mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence variables and behavior in bystanders and lead to an increase in the level of effectiveness.