Citation

Baker RK, Epstein LK, Forth RD. Am. Polit. Q. 1981; 9(1): 89-102.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11655864

Abstract

This article investigates the structure of attitudes toward abortion using several demographic, political, and religious variables. The analysis is based on a 1978 survey of New Jersey's voting age population. Responses to questions on 3 aspects of the abortion issue--a constitutional ban on abortion, abortion on demand, and government funding of abortions--are combined to form a scale of support and opposition to abortion. We find that support for abortion is related to youth, high socioeconomic status, a liberal ideology, opposition to right-to-die legislation, and support for the Equal Rights Amendment. Additionally, we find that approval for abortion is not a function of religious preference. Rather, attitudes on abortion are a function of intensity of religious adherence, regardless of specific religion.

Language: en