Oral Presentations
Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Rachel Williamson
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Psychology
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Recent changes to the abortion laws across the United States have had a profound impact on the psychological well-being and overall health of women. The extent and ways that people support or oppose access to abortion may be influenced by personal experiences of sexual violence and coercion. To understand the implications of legal actions towards women’s reproductive health, this study explores associations between abortion attitudes and experiences of reproductive coercion, non-partner sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and perceptions of people actively seeking abortion access. In this study, participants were asked about their personal attitudes towards abortion, and their experiences of reproductive coercion, non-partner sexual violence, and intimate partner violence. Participants read a vignette about a woman who sought an illegal abortion and were asked to evaluate the woman on a number of positive and negative personality traits. Lastly, participants reported their stance on abortion. Correlation analysis will be used to determine associations between measured variables. A regression analysis will be used to test the influence of past experiences on evaluation of the hypothetical woman seeking an abortion. This study enhances our understanding of how people’s stance on abortion may be shaped by their own experiences of gender-based violence.
Category
Social Sciences
The Impact of Past Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Coercion on Abortion Attitudes
UC 331
Recent changes to the abortion laws across the United States have had a profound impact on the psychological well-being and overall health of women. The extent and ways that people support or oppose access to abortion may be influenced by personal experiences of sexual violence and coercion. To understand the implications of legal actions towards women’s reproductive health, this study explores associations between abortion attitudes and experiences of reproductive coercion, non-partner sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and perceptions of people actively seeking abortion access. In this study, participants were asked about their personal attitudes towards abortion, and their experiences of reproductive coercion, non-partner sexual violence, and intimate partner violence. Participants read a vignette about a woman who sought an illegal abortion and were asked to evaluate the woman on a number of positive and negative personality traits. Lastly, participants reported their stance on abortion. Correlation analysis will be used to determine associations between measured variables. A regression analysis will be used to test the influence of past experiences on evaluation of the hypothetical woman seeking an abortion. This study enhances our understanding of how people’s stance on abortion may be shaped by their own experiences of gender-based violence.