MENTAL MODELS OF ATTACHMENT AND COPING WITH ABORTION

This study explored the relationships between mental models of attachm ent and adjustment to abortion in 408 women undergoing a Ist-trimester abortion at a large free-standing abortion clinic. As expected, menta l models of attachment were related to postabortion distress and posit ive well-being. These relationships were mediated by feelings of self- efficacy for coping with abortion, perceived support from a woman's ma le partner, and perceived conflict from this same source. Model of sel f and model of others interacted only in predicting perceived conflict and positive well-being. Model of self was more strongly related to t he mediator and outcome variables than was model of others. The effect s of model of self, however, were largely a reflection of the overlap between model of self and self-esteem.