Msetfi, R,Jay, S,O'Donnell, AT,Kearns, M,Kinsella, EL,McMahon, J,Muldoon, OT,Naughton, C,Creaven, AM

2018

February

Journal of health psychology

Restricted reproductive rights and risky sexual behaviour: How political disenfranchisement relates to women's sense of control, well-being and sexual health

Published

()

abortion control disenfranchisement health well-being COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ABORTION SCALE COUNTRIES WORKERS POWER

23

252

262

Few studies have investigated the role of disenfranchisement and denial of agency in women's sexual health. To address this, a cross-sectional study of disenfranchisement, control (general and reproductive control) and health was conducted in Ireland, where abortion is severely restricted. Multiple mediation models (N=513 women) indicated that general but not reproductive control mediates the association between disenfranchisement and psychological well-being. Additionally, serial mediation shows disenfranchisement is associated with lower sense of control, which is linked to poorer well-being and risky sexual behaviour. Disenfranchisement arising from socio-political contexts may have important implications for women's sexual health.

10.1177/1359105317736784