Cross-cultural study of abortion attitudes - syntax file

We explored between- and within-culture variability in abortion attitudes, using country-level factors (e.g., gender equality) and individual-level factors (e.g., gender role attitudes) as predictors. Participants (M age = 41; SD age = 15.39) from Mexico (N = 215), India (N = 215), the US (N = 215) and the UK (N = 206) were recruited to participate in an online survey via Qualtrics Panels. Regression models and ANOVAs were used to assess whether estimates of gender inequality, gender role attitudes, motherhood norms, belief in ‘big’/moralizing gods, and sexual strategy were associated with abortion attitudes. As predicted, individuals living in countries with greater gender inequality (β = -.10, p = .009), and more restrictive abortion policy (F(2, 848) = 19.01 p < .001, η2 = .04), endorsed more restrictive abortion attitudes. Furthermore, individuals that endorsed more traditional gender role ideologies (β = .10, p = .009), who reported belief in ‘big’/moralising gods (β = -.16, p < .001), and who used long-term sexual strategies (β = .21, p < .001) also reported more restrictive abortion attitudes. Exploratory analyses highlight how these relationships vary as a function of cultural context. We can conclude that both contextual factors (e.g., local abortion legislation and gender inequality) as well as individual factors (e.g., gender role attitudes and religious/spiritual belief) shape people’s attitudes towards abortion.