Attitudes and behavioral intentions about abortion

This paper examines the extent to which there may be differences in attitudes toward abortion and intentions when one is faced with making an abortion decision for oneself. Data from a 1977 national survey were used. The results indicated that while such differences existed only on a limited scale in medically indicated situations of abortion, discretionary situations had a sizable proportion of respondents who would approve of abortion for others but would not opt for abortion themselves. The differences in attitudes and intentions were affected by sex, religious behaviors, ideological dimensions of fertility, sexual permissiveness, and freedom of expression.