Examining differences in attitudes toward legal abortion in cases of endangered mental health for pregnant women: Insights from a U.S. national survey

Abstract

ABSTRACT We explored demographic differences in attitudes toward abortion in the case of mental health endangerment. A web-based survey was administered in English and Spanish to a sample of 1,583 participants. Using ordinal logistic regression with partial proportional odds, we regressed political affiliation, race/ethnicity, education, and religious attendance on people’s attitudes toward abortion legality when a woman’s mental health is endangered. Democrats and people affiliated outside of the Republican party, greater educational attainment, and attending religious services less than once a week were associated with greater endorsement of legal abortion in the case of mental health endangerment. Since abortion in the context of health endangerment is commonly discussed in abortion legislation, it is important for researchers to examine people’s attitudes when considering this specific abortion context.