Meningen over abortus in West-Europa, 1981-2000

Summary Abortion attitudes in Western Europe, 1981-2000 This article answers descriptive and explanatory questions about abortion attitudes in Western Europe between 1981 and 2000. It explains country differences and trends in these attitudes with abortion laws of states, with the norms that prevail in churches and schools, and with opinions and behaviour of others in a society. Using the European and World Value Surveys, complemented with abortion statistics and information about abortion laws, we find that public opinion is less permissive of abortion in countries where abortion is restricted by law. Part of this association is due to abortion laws being more restricted in catholic societies, and Catholics are less permissive. However, abortion laws also indirectly affect abortion attitudes: as a result of stricter abortion laws, abortion is less frequent, which in turn negatively affects the tolerance towards abortion. We find substantial effects of the norms set by states and from the opinion and behaviour of others in a society, but the norms that prevail in churches and schools are still most influential for abortion attitudes, even though church members and non-members become more alike in their opinion about abortion