Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2007
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department / School
Sociology and Rural Studies
Abstract
Although a few studies have investigated college students' attitudes about abortion, none have focused on exactly how college attendance, relative to other individual and social factors, influences undergraduates' attitudes about abortion. The model developed in this study aims to clarify the impact college-related factors have on students' attitudes towards abortion in relation to other individual and social factors. This model, a modification of Weidman's undergraduate socialization model, uses a subset of variables from his model and adds a number of theoretical perspectives. These additions include: reference group theory, structure-attitude theoretical assumptions, as well as theoretical assumptions derived from the interaction-based model of Deaux and Major. Drawing on data collected from 331 undergraduate students at South Dakota State University, this study found that both non-college and college variables influence students' attitudes about abortion. According to the model, students' attitudes about abortion are influenced by the non-college variables of religion, political affiliation, sociopolitical views, gender role attitudes, and each of the following non-college reference groups: non-college friends, church members, and parents. In addition to the non-college variables, the model suggests that students' year in college, residence, and the influence of college friends also affects students' abortion attitudes. The model was tested using multinominal logistic regression. Of the non-college and college variables in the model, the strongest predictors of students' attitudes about abortion proved to be religion, sociopolitical views, and the influence of both fathers and non-college friends. Thus, the effects of non-college factors had a greater impact on students' attitudes concerning the issue of abortion. Unlike other social issues, the effects of college may not have the same level of impact on students' attitudes towards abortion because of the moral sensitivity of this particular issue.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Abortion
College students -- Attitudes
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
141
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Livingston, Kerry L., "College Students' Attitudes Towards Abortion : A Multivariate Analysis of College and Non-College Variables" (2007). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1409.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1409
