In total, 304 questionnaires were completed, of which 67 (22%) questionnaires were removed, leaving a total of 237 questionnaires. Of those removed, 45 were incomplete submissions, 17 had inconsistencies, and 5 exceeded the allowed M score.
Table 1 describes the baseline characteristics of the final 237 participants. The majority of the sample comprised women. The mean age was 32.5 years. Most of the participants (65%) were single, and 28% were married. Of the sample, 66% reported belonging to some type of religion; however, only 53% of these were practitioners. The predominant religion was Catholicism with 91%.
Most of the subjects were from Mexico City and the State of Mexico (71%), 26% from another state, and 2.5% from another country. Subjects were asked who they lived with as children. The majority reported having grown up with their parents (85%). 41% reported currently living with their family of origin, 23% with their own family, and 17% lived alone. Most participants had an undergraduate education level (66%), almost 10% had completed postgraduate studies, and less than 4% had completed elementary school studies or lower. With regard to the level of income, 35% of the subjects reported having income between $2,700 and $6,799 and 30% between $6,800 and $11,599.
Table 1
Characteristics of the total population and categories by sex
| Total n = 237 TN (%) | Men n = 72 TN (%) | Women n = 165 TN (%) |
Population Residents Master’s Family clinic Youth from the social program | 88 (36.8) | 27 (37.5) | 61 (37) |
36 (15.1) | 12 (16.7) | 24 (14.5) |
67 (28) | 21 (29.2) | 46 (27.9) |
46 (19.2) | 12 (16.7) | 34 (20.6) |
Age (mean±SD) | 32.5±13.3 | 34.4±15.8 | 31.6±11.9 |
Marital Status Single Married or Civil Union Divorced or Separated Widow(er) | 156 (65.3) | 44 (61.1) | 112 (67.9) |
66 (27.6) | 24 (33.3) | 42 (25.5) |
10 (4.2) | 3 (4.2) | 7 (4.2) |
5 (2.1) | 1 (1.4) | 4 (2.4) |
Religion | 157 (65.7) | 46 (63.9) | 111 (67.3) |
Type of religion Catholic n=157 Christian Not specified | 146 (91.3) | 42 (89.4) | 104 (92) |
10 (6.3) | 3 (6.4) | 7 (6.2) |
4 (2.5) | 2 (4.3) | 2 (1.8) |
Practice religion n = 157 | 85 (53.1) | 28 (59.6) | 57 (50.4) |
Place of Birth Mexico City Mexico state Another state Another country | 141 (59) | 38 (52.8) | 103 (62.4) |
28 (11.7) | 7 (9.7) | 21 (12.7) |
62 (25.9) | 26 (36.1) | 36 (21.8) |
6 (2.5) | 1 (1.4) | 5 (3) |
Place of residence Mexico City Mexico state | 203 (84.9) | 63 (87.5) | 140 (84.8) |
34 (14.2) | 9 (12.5) | 25 (15.2) |
Childhood home family members Parents Father or mother Extended family Other family | 202 (84.5) | 63 (87.5) | 139 (84.2) |
24 (10) | 7 (9.7) | 17 (10.3) |
9 (3.8) | 2 (2.8) | 7 (4.2) |
2 (0.8) | 0 | 2 (1.2) |
Current household family members Family of origin Own family Roommate Alone | 99 (41.4) | 26 (36.1) | 73 (44.2) |
55 (23) | 17 (23.6) | 38 (23) |
43 (18) | 14 (19.4) | 29 (17.6) |
40 (16.7) | 15 (20.8) | 25 (15.2) |
Education level Primary school Middle school High School Undergraduate Graduate | 9 (3.8) | 5 (6.9) | 4 (2.4) |
22 (9.2) | 4 (5.6) | 18 (11) |
25 (10.5) | 6 (8.3) | 19 (11.6) |
157 (65.7) | 48 (66.7) | 109 (66.5) |
23 (9.6) | 9 (12.5) | 14 (8.5) |
Monthly income 0–2,699 2,700–6,799 6,800–11,599 11,600–34,999 More than 35,000 | 32 (13.4) | 12 (16.7) | 20 (12.1) |
84 (35.1) | 16 (22.2) | 68 (41.2) |
71 (29.7) | 25 (34.7) | 46 (27.9) |
39 (16.3) | 13 (18.1) | 26 (15.8) |
11 (4.6) | 6 (8.3) | 5 (3) |
Note: TN: Total numbers |
Results Of The Development Of Moral Reasoning
Table 2 shows the results of the development of moral reasoning through the DIT for both the total number of participants and categories by sex. The score increases in the first stages until a higher score is obtained for stage 4, with an average of 36.9, with no difference between sexes, and with a decrease in the score as the stages go up. The P index showed an average of 29.2, noting a difference of almost 7 points between the sexes, favoring women.
Additionally, the P index (CatP) was categorized into terciles: Category 1 corresponds to the lowest stages (preconventional)—that is, scores less than 30 points; category 2, to the middle stages (conventional)—that is, scores between 30 and 39.9 points; and category 3, to the highest stages (postconventional)—that is, scores greater than 40 points. A total of 53% of the population was found in category 1, 25% in category 2, and only 21% in category 3. Regarding sex, there were some differences because 64% of men were in category 1, and only 17% were in category 3, while for women, 49% were in category 1, and 23% in category 3 (Table 2).
Table 2
Average and minimum–maximum range of stages 2–6 and the total P index and categories by sex. Frequencies of total P-index categories and categories by sex
Stage | Total n = 237 Av. (min–max) | Men n = 72 Av. (min–max) | Women n = 165 Av. (min–max) |
2 | 6.1 (0–26.6) | 6.6 (0–26.6) | 3.3 (0–26.6) |
3 | 17.3 (0–53.3) | 16.6 (0–46.7) | 16.6 (0–53.3) |
4 | 36.9 (0–80) | 36.7 (0–80) | 36.6 (0–70) |
5A | 17.4 (0–56.6) | 15 (0–43.3) | 16.6 (0–56.6) |
5B | 5.6 (0–13.6) | 0 (0–13.3) | 6.6 (0–13.6) |
6 | 6.5 (0–20) | 3.3 (0–20) | 6.7 (0–20) |
P index | 29.2 (3.3–83.3) | 23.3 (3.3–63.3) | 30 (3.3–83.3) |
Cat P 1 TN (%) 2 3 | 126 (52.7) | 46 (63.9) | 80 (48.5) |
61 (25.5) | 14 (19.4) | 47 (28.5) |
50 (20.9) | 12 (16.7) | 38 (23) |
Note: TN: total numbers |
For our main objective, different study populations were considered—that is, medical graduate students, graduates of other degrees, and people without a full degree or a lower educational level, belonging to the population of UMF 31. Table 3 describes the development profile of moral reasoning according to these populations. A higher P index score was observed among pediatric specialty students (33.3) compared to the other populations. The family clinic population obtained the lowest score with 20 points. The same is observed with the P score categories, considering that within the group of specialty students, 36% were in category 3, and only 4.5% were in the clinic group.
Table 3
Average and minimum–maximum range of stages 2–6 and the total P index and categories per population. Frequencies of total P index categories and categories by population.
Stages | Total n = 237 Av. (min–max) | Residence n = 88 Av. (min–max) | Master’s degree n = 36 Av. (min-max) | UMF 31 n = 67 Av. (min–max) | JCF n = 46 Av. (min–max) |
2 | 6.1 (0–26.6) | 4.9 (0–23.3) | 8.4 (0–20) | 3.3 (0–26.6) | 3.3 (0–26.6) |
3 | 17.3 (0–53.3) | 13.3 (0–53.3) | 18.4 (0–50) | 16.6 (0–43.3) | 20 (3.3–46.6) |
4 | 36.9 (0–80) | 36.6 (0–80) | 36.7 (13.3–63.3) | 36.6 (0–70) | 33.3 (6.6–63.6) |
5A | 17.4 (0–56.6) | 20 (0–56.6) | 15 (0–36.7) | 13.3 (0–36.6) | 16.6 (0–56.6) |
5B | 5.6 (0–13.6) | 10 (0–13.3) | 10 (0–13.3) | 0 (0–13.3) | 6.6 (0–13.6) |
6 | 6.5 (0–20) | 6.7 (0–20) | 6.7 (0–20) | 6.6 (0–20) | 4.9 (0–16.6) |
P index | 29.2 (3.3–83.3) | 33.3 (3.3–76.6) | 26.7 (3.3–53.3) | 20 (3.3–50) | 26.6 (10–83.3) |
Cat P 1 NT (%) 2 3 | 126 (52.7) | 33 (37.5) | 20 (55.6) | 47 (70.1) | 26 (56.5) |
61 (25.5) | 23 (26.1) | 9 (25) | 17 (25.4) | 12 (26.1) |
50 (20.9) | 32 (36.4) | 7 (19.4) | 3 (4.5) | 8 (17.4) |
This same analysis was conducted for other variables of interest. Considering the participants’ education level, the average P score increases as the highest level of studies progresses, with primary school studies being 16.6; middle school studies, 21.7; high school studies, 20; and reaching an undergraduate degree, 30. Subsequently, a slight decrease was noted in the postgraduate participants with a P index of 26.7. The same is true for the Cat P categories, with 89% of participants with only primary school education, 72% with high school education, and only 47% with a bachelor’s degree in category 1. In contrast, in category 3, there were no participants with primary or middle school education; 12% had high school education, with the scores increasing in those with undergraduate degrees (27%) and decreasing in those with postgraduate degrees (17%).
Considering whether the participant reported belonging to a religion or not, the P index did not show differences, with 26.7 for those who belonged to a religion and 26.6 for those who did not. Those who did belong to a religion (157 subjects) were asked whether or not they frequently practiced their religion. The P index of those who did not practice it was 30 points while those who did practice it was 26.6. Of those who did, 58% were in category 1, 27% in category 2, and 15% in category 3. Of those who did not, 42% were in category 1, 35% in category 2, and 23% in category 3.