Bella Wiseman

Senior Project Advisor

Rudy Alamillo

Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Fall 2024

Keywords

Abortion attitudes, reproductive rights, American National Election Studies (ANES), public opinion, political affiliation, political ideology, socioeconomic factors, demographic trends

Abstract

This research explores the factors influencing shifts in public attitudes toward abortion in the United States from 1972 to 2020. Using data from the American National Election Studies (ANES), a logistic regression model is employed to examine the impact of ten independent variables, including church attendance, party identification, income, and education, on support for legal abortion. Findings reveal that frequent church attendance, liberal ideology, high levels of income, and higher education significantly shape abortion attitudes, with liberal ideologies, high levels of income, and higher education all correlating with pro-choice perspectives. These results offer insights into the interplay between demographic trends and societal attitudes, demonstrating how cultural and political shifts influence public opinion on reproductive rights. This analysis provides a basis for understanding evolving perspectives and informing policy discussions in our contemporary legal landscape.

Department

Political Science

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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