Motivational Factors in Abortion Patients

Ninety-nine single white pregnant women seeking abortion were compared with 79 single nonpregnant women of similar background. Most of the women in both groups were college students. Of the pregnant group, 40 percent were found to have motivational factors that may have influenced the occurrence of the pregnancy, such as guilt over use of contraception, a severe acting-out character disorder, or reactions to loss. Psychological testing showed that the pregnant group rated themselves as more impulsive and as tending to externalize aggression. Knowledge of and access to contraception was similar in the two groups. The authors draw inferences from their study as to the most useful kinds of sex education programs colleges might undertake.