College students' attitudes toward abortion and commitment to the issue

Male and female participants were surveyed on abortion attitudes, commitmen t, and abortion experience. Results revealed a normal distribution of abort ion attitudes rejecting the notion that the vast majority of the sample wou ld have significantly pro-choice views. No significant difference was found in overall abortion attitudes of males vs. females, however, individuals w ith direct abortion experience were found to have significantly stronger pr o-choice attitudes than individuals without direct abortion experience. Ove rall, college students reported a moderate degree of commitment to the issu e of abortion. Females were significantly more committed than males, indivi duals with direct abortion experience were significantly more committed tha n individuals without direct abortion experience, and individuals with more extreme abortion attitudes were significantly more committed than those wi th weaker, more ambivalent, attitudes. No significant. difference was found in level of commitment between pro-choice and pro-life individuals.