中絶を経験した女性のスピリチュアリティ

Spirituality in Women Who Have Undergone Induced Abortion

要旨

　中絶を経験した女性のスピリチュアリティを明らかにすることが本研究の目的である.水子供養に参加した女性にアンケート調査を実施し, 自由記述のテクストを, 帰納的手法に基づいて量的・質的に分析した. 量的分析には, コンピュータのコーディング・ソフト (KT 2 system) を使用した. 量的分析から次の知見が得られた. (1) 肯定的感情と否定的感情はほぼ同じ頻度で観察された. (2) 肯定的感情は胎児との関連が強く, 否定的感情はパートナーや女性自身と関連が強かった. (3) 胎児に対する肯定的感情と, パートナーや自分自身に対する否定的感情とは女性の観念において並存しながらも区別されていた. 質的分析から次の知見が得られた. (4) パートナーの理解や供養への参加は重要であった. (5) 生まれ変わりの観念や失った胎児との絆 (内的対話・交流) が, 中絶を経験した女性のエンパワーに繋がっていた. (6) 中絶の経験は, 女性が〈生命〉に対する感受性を育む契機となっていた．

Abstract

　The purpose of this paper was to explore the spirituality of women who have undergone induced abortion. The questionnaire was administered to women who participated in the Mizuko Kuyo ritual and the data were analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods. Coding (KT 2 system) was used for the quantitative analysis.

　The outcomes of the quantitative analysis were as follows. 1. Positive emotions were observed at the same level as negative emotions. 2. Positive emotions were associated with the fetus. On the other hand, negative emotions were associated with partner and women. 3. Positive emotions towards their fetuses and negative emotions towards their partners and themselves were observed nearly but separate region of women's notion in two-dimensional plot.

　The outcomes of the qualitative analysis were as follows. 1. Abortion created crisis in the relationships of these women. Therefore, their partners' support and participation in the Mizuko Kuyo ritual were both important to them. 2. The women were empowered by their faith in the fetus's spirit. 3. The abortion experience brought reverence for life to women's notion.