Social Problem Solving and Adjustment in Adolescence: The Influence of Moral Reasoning Level, Scoring Alternatives, and Family Climate

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Abstract
We examined the relationship between two aspects of social competencemoral reasoning and interpersonal cognitive problem-solving skill (ICPS)— in a sample of inner-city, minority adolescents from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Following that, we explored the extent to which moral reasoning level adds to or interacts with ICPS levels to predict behavior in several areas of adjustment; we then examined the relationship of both elements Of social behavior to perceived family interaction patterns. Finally, we evaluated alternative means of assessing ICPS skill levels for their ability to enhance the association between ICPS and several aspects of adjustment. At the level of relationships, among constructs were moderate correlations between moral reasoning and ICPS. A set of family-climate factors and academic-success criteria was related to both measures of social competence when combined, but not when considered separately, With regard to assessment issues, a composite ICPS score was a better predictor of personal and academic outcomes than any single ICPS component. Finally, two new ICPS components proposed and employed in this work were consistently related both to family functioning patterns and to various indices of adolescent adjustment. These findings have implications for the study of ICPS and social competence.