Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Association between perceived social support and induced abortion: A study in maternal health centers in Lima, Peru
Luis E Sánchez-Siancas1, Angélica Rodríguez-Medina1, Alejandro Piscoya1
1School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas-UPC, Lima, Peru.
Objectives:
This study aimed to assess the association between perceived social support and induced abortion among young women in Lima, Peru. In addition, prevalence and incidence of induced abortion was estimated.
Methods/Principal Findings:
A cross-sectional study enrolling women aged 18-25 years from maternal health centers in Southern Lima, Peru, was conducted. Induced abortion was defined as the difference between the total number of pregnancies ended in abortion and the number of spontaneous abortions; whereas perceived social support was assessed using the DUKE-UNC scale. Prevalence and incidence of induced abortion (per 100 person-years risk) was estimated, and the association of interest was evaluated using Poisson regression models with robust variance. A total of 298 women were enrolled, mean age 21.7 (± 2.2) years. Low levels of social support were found in 43.6% (95%CI 38.0%-49.3%), and 17.4% (95%CI: 13.1%- 21.8%) women reported at least one induced abortion. The incidence of induced abortion was 2.37 (95%CI: 1.81-3.11) per 100 person-years risk. The multivariable model showed evidence of the association between low perceived social support and induced abortion (RR = 1.94; 95%CI: 1.14-3.30) after controlling for confounders.
Conclusions:
There was evidence of an association between low perceived social support and induced abortion among women aged 18 to 25 years. Incidence of induced abortion was similar or even greater than rates of countries where abortion is legal. Strategies to increase social support and reduce induced abortion rates are needed.
Related Concept Videos
Social Traps
Social Exchange Theory
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Social Proof
Social Scripts
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...

