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Coping with abortion: The effect of attributions, perceived avoidability, and acceptability
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of attributions, perceived avoidability, and acceptability on long-term adjustment following abortion. From an initial group of 192 women undergoing first-trimester, elective abortion, we conducted analyses on a subgroup of 75 women who returned for a post-abortion follow-up visit. We were most interested in psychological factors present at the time of the abortion that could be used to predict adjustment at the follow-up visit six to eight weeks later. Measures assessing coping, self-esteem, and depression were used as indicators of adjustment. Over time, we found that adjustment following abortion tended to improve rather than decline; however, feelings of vulnerability also increased. In terms of attributions, only attributions to luck were directly related to adjustment. Women who blamed luck for their unwanted pregnancy coped worse relative to women who did not. Perceived avoidability was also directly related to coping; women who felt that they could have avoided the past unwanted pregnancy or could avoid one in the future experienced better adjustment. Attributions to the self and behavior, while not directly related to adjustment, were associated by virtue of their relationship to perceived avoidability; that is, the attribution-adjustment relationship was mediated by perceived avoidability. Acceptability of abortion was associated with coping. Women who were least accepting of abortion reported having the most difficult time coping. Acceptability of abortion, future avoidability, and attributions to luck were found to be the best predictors of adjustment. Finally, we examined women in terms of whether or not they used contraception at conception and found no differences in adjustment.
Subject Area
Social psychology|Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Thomas-Knowles, Carol Elaine, "Coping with abortion: The effect of attributions, perceived avoidability, and acceptability" (1992). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9219507.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9219507