Premium
U.S. Abortion in Context: Selected Characteristics and Motivations of Women Seeking Abortions
Author(s) -
Russo Nancy Felipe,
Horn Jody D.,
Schwartz Robert
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1992.tb00903.x
Subject(s) - abortion , disadvantage , family planning , context (archaeology) , marital status , psychology , social psychology , diversity (politics) , developmental psychology , demography , medicine , population , pregnancy , political science , sociology , research methodology , law , geography , genetics , archaeology , biology
The implications and effects of restrictive abortion laws depend on the characteristics and motivations of women obtaining abortions. Using secondary analysis of abortion patient data, this article documents substantial diversity in reproductive histories, family responsibilities, resources, and reasons for abortion among minors and adults who differed in marital and parental status. Abortion patients had substantial family responsibilities; nearly half were mothers. Reasons for abortion were related to internal, personal characteristics as well as to external circumstances, but for adult women, external circumstances were particularly salient. Women's abortion decisions reflected a desire to optimize the quality of marriage and childbearing, and to reduce risk of physical, psychological, social, and economic disadvantage for themselves and their existing and future children.