Title

Relative Body Weight as a Factor in the Decision to Abort

Document Type

Article

Department or Administrative Unit

Psychology

Publication Date

6-1983

Abstract

Abortion referral data of 692 pregnant women visiting a large urban planned parenthood clinic were analyzed to determine whether relative weight, as measured by an adiposity index, as well as other variables, were associated with a decision to terminate or not terminate a pregnancy. Relative weight, length of pregnancy, education, age, ethnicity, and marital status were found to be associated with the decision to abort. While most of these variables have previously been shown to be related to the decision to terminate or not terminate a pregnancy, a relationship between relative weight and abortion has not previously been reported. In the analyses of all the women in this study and of a subsample consisting only of those in the early stages of their pregnancies, increased relative weight was associated with a decrease in the likelihood of termination of pregnancy. Possible reasons for this relationship and the evolutionary implications are discussed.

Comments

This article was originally published in Psychological Reports. The full-text article from the publisher can be found here.

Due to copyright restrictions, this article is not available for free download from ScholarWorks @ CWU.

Journal

Psychological Reports

Rights

© Psychological Reports 1983

Link to Full Text

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