Discussion of Findings

In the quantitative phase of the study, I examined the relationship between moral distress and the propensity for moral disengagement by testing whether the frequency and intensity of moral distress, the independent variable, is predictive of moral disengagement, the dependent variable, among U.S. residents, and the role of the ethical climate, the moderating variable, in moderating the effects of both phenomena. A preliminary correlational analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the frequency of moral distress and the propensity for moral disengagement. Similarly, the findings indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between the intensity of moral distress and the propensity for moral disengagement among U.S. residents.