Gender and Age Differences in Moral Reasoning of Sexual Behaviour That could Lead to The Spread of Human Immune Defficency Virus

Abstract

Tile frontline issue of this study was to examine moral
r( Honing of se.tl/al behavior that could lead to the spread of human
,mmllncxfcjirlf!ncy yinls (HIV). Data were obtained from 80 purposively
Sdf'clt'li Gondar Teachers' College students (40 males and 40 females)
IlJIIIg qllcslIOlltloire. Using Kohlberg's moral stage theOl)' and Gilligan's
morllf orientation model, the questionnaire was scored for moral stage alld
morulorumlation. Results revealed that older-age group studellfs (21~year ~
oldf) hl1d a Significantly higher stage of moral reasoning than the younger
"1;" group (17-year-olds) wilen responding to moral dilemmas abow the
tramm/won of HIY. Bllt, there was no gender difference ill lhe stage of
moral reasoning and moral orientation. Results further indicated non·
IIgmJicollt age difference in moral orientation. The importance of the
rf'.Juiu. particularly 'he educational implicatiolls. for understanding the role
of morC1/ reasoning in preventing sexually risky behavior are discussed.