The impact of abortion on social interest

• Paul N. Dixon

  The University of South Carolina

• Welborn Willingham

  Texas Tech University , Texas Tech University , Texas Tech University , Texas Tech University , Texas Tech University , Texas Tech University , Texas Tech University

• Donald Strano

  Washington University

We examined the relationship between abortion and the Adlerian personality construct of social interest or gemeinschaftsgefuehl. The Social Interest Index was used to measure the social interest of women in the week before their abortion procedure (pretest), 2 weeks following the procedure (posttest), and 3 months after the abortion (follow-up). We hypothesized that social interest scores would be lowest just prior to the abortion, and the results supported this, showing a significant increase in scores at postabortion and follow-up. Furthermore, social interest scores at the 3-month follow-up did not differ significantly from scores obtained by a nonaborting sample of women from the general population. Our findings suggest that the effect of abortion on social interest is temporary and support the situational nature of social interest.

1. Paul N. Dixon, The University of South Carolina
   College of Education

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