Generational Variation in Young Adults’ Attitudes toward Legal Abortion: Contextualizing the Role of Religion

Abstract

Recent sociological research has addressed a wide range of attitudinal, behavioral, and sociodemographic factors that influence attitudes toward legal abortion. Young adulthood is an important life stage for the development of attitudes and behaviors that are likely to influence individuals over time. Several life course theorists in psychology, social psychology, and sociology hold views consistent with this idea. We use a cohort comparison to evaluate the extent to which attitudes among young adults vary by cohort/historical epoch. We examine the influence of religious preference and participation on support for legal abortion across three birth cohorts controlling for a range of sociodemographic variables. Using data from the General Social Survey, we compare abortion attitudes and religious predictors of these attitudes across three generational cohorts—Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. Our findings indicate (1) differences between cohorts, (2) variation in the influence of religion on abortion attitudes among young adults socialized in different time periods, and (3) consistency and inconsistency in relation to sociodemographic effects across cohorts. These findings suggest that part of the continuity of abortion debates in U.S. society reflects changes whereby young adults became less supportive of legal abortion after the Baby Boomer cohort.

Abortion Attitudes: An Overview of Demographic and Ideological Differences

“…Yet the gradual population‐level increases in abortion support observed above may be due to younger cohorts replacing older, less permissive, cohorts. Consistent with this perspective, Barringer and colleagues (2020) examined data from the GSS on abortion support among 18‐ to 32‐year‐olds from three cohorts: Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1980), and Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996). Consistent with the liberalizing effects of the 1960s' counterculture movement, Baby Boomers were more supportive of abortion than Millennials and Gen Xers.…”

A Second Chance in the Sunshine State: Religious Identity and Voter Support for Re‐Enfranchisement in Florida

“…The remaining responses such as “Muslim” or “Buddhist” were recoded as “other religious traditions.” Due to small sample sizes, those who responded as “Jewish,” or “Mormon” were also recoded as “other religious traditions.” Additionally, due to small sample size, those who responded as “atheist/agnostic” or “nothing in particular” were recoded as “no religious preference.” The resulting religious categories included in this analysis were mainline Protestant, evangelical Protestant, Catholic, other religious traditions, and no religious preference. Similar to other analyses (see Barringer, Sumerau, and Gay 2020), “no religious preference” serves as the reference category. Those who responded as “don’t know” or “refused” were excluded from the analysis.…”

“…The resulting religious categories included in this analysis were mainline Protestant, evangelical Protestant, Catholic, other religious traditions, and no religious preference. Similar to other analyses (see Barringer, Sumerau, and Gay 2020), "no religious preference" serves as the reference category. Those who responded as "don't know" or "refused" were excluded from the analysis.…”

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“…Los estudios se debaten entre aquellos en los que se sostiene que los cambios provienen por reemplazo de cohortes y entre quienes sostienen que provienen de las experiencias de vida que promueven cambios en las actitudes. Recientemente, Barringer, Sumerau, y Gay (2020) ofrecen evidencia sólida acerca de que hay (1) diferencias entre cohortes, (2) variación en la influencia de la religión en las actitudes hacia el aborto entre adultos jóvenes socializados en diferentes períodos de tiempo, y (3) consistencia e inconsistencia en relación con los efectos sociodemográficos entre cohortes. Estos hallazgos sugieren que parte de la continuidad de los debates sobre el aborto en la sociedad estadounidense refleja cambios según los cuales los adultos jóvenes apoyan menos el aborto legal después de los Baby Boomers.…”