THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MORAL REASONING AND ANXIETY DISORDERS IN YOUTH

Abstract

This article examines the complex interrelations between moral reasoning and anxiety disorders in youth, situating the discussion within developmental, cognitive-affective, and psychosocial frameworks. Adolescence represents a formative period during which moral cognition and emotional regulation mature concurrently, influenced by social contexts, neural development, and psychopathological vulnerabilities. This paper synthesizes evidence from moral development theory (Kohlberg, Piaget), affective neuroscience, and clinical research on anxiety disorders among adolescents, with a special focus on mechanisms linking moral judgment, stress responses, self-evaluation, and maladaptive anxiety. Empirical findings suggest that higher level moral reasoning can buffer emotional distress under normative social pressures but may also exacerbate anxiety in contexts of moral conflict, social evaluation, or perceived moral failure. Implications for early intervention, educational policy, and future research directions are discussed.