Attitudes toward abortion among Catholic Mexican-American women: the effects of religiosity and education.
Contrary to observed trends in religious fertility and contraceptive use differentials, Catholic/non-Catholic differentials in attitudes toward abortion have not been converging. This study suggests that this may be due to an interaction between religiosity and education. In a sample of Catholic Mexican-American women in Los Angeles County, the authors found that among respondents brought up in Mexico, education had a liberalizing effect on their attitudes. With the exception of the most devout, the same trend was observed among U.S.-reared respondents. Among the most religious group, however, education had the opposite effect, suggesting that convergence will be delayed.
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002410:Catholicism; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012945:Social Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States