Mental Health and Moral Awareness in Juvenile Offenders: A Systematic Review of Literature

Juvenile delinquency intersects moral development and mental health, with growing evidence linking deficits in moral reasoning and psychological vulnerability. This systematic review synthesizes 38 empirical studies from 2015 to 2025, exploring the relationship between moral awareness and mental health in juvenile offenders. Using Kohlberg’s moral development theory and Bandura’s moral disengagement framework, findings show that disrupted self-conscious emotions such as guilt and shame, along with distorted moral reasoning, contribute to antisocial behavior. Incarcerated adolescents experience high rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse, which are higher than the general adolescent population. Risk factors include dysfunctional family environments, peer pressure, childhood adversity, and limited access to mental health care. Although the need for targeted interventions is increasing, programs addressing moral emotions remain scarce and lack strong empirical validation. This review emphasizes the urgency of trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate psychosocial interventions to support rehabilitation and promote psychological well-being and prosocial reintegration.