The interaction between individual traits and societal factors in predicting abortion stigma

Abortion stigma is a morally and politically divisive issue, often framed through reductive binaries that equate support for abortion with empathy and opposition with moral deficiency. This study explores how prosocial personality traits (i.e., the Light Triad), religiosity, and political ideology interact in shaping stigmatizing attitudes toward abortion. A sample of 304 participants engaged in a survey from October to November 2024, completed measures assessing abortion stigma, Light Triad traits, religiosity, and political orientation. Structural equation modeling revealed that higher Light Triad traits predicted lower abortion stigma. However, this relationship was moderated by political ideology: among conservatives, prosocial traits had a diminished—or even reversed—association with stigma. These findings challenge the notion that moral reasoning on abortion is unidimensional and highlight the role of ideological context in directing moral concern. The study underscores the need for stigma-reduction strategies that consider not only individual empathy but also group norms and ideological commitments that shape how that empathy is expressed.