The topic of abortion has been a contentious and complex issue, eliciting fervent debates and deeply-held beliefs from many differing perspectives. One commonly perpetuated myth is the notion that women who undergo abortions inevitably suffer from severe and lasting psychological trauma. This myth continues to be propagated by anti-abortion proponents, perpetuated in public discourse and has shaped policies and laws related to reproductive health. This misconception becomes increasingly vital to recognize when it comes to creating policy and legislation due to the severity of the possible consequences. However, a growing population of scientific researchers has challenged this notion, revealing that the psychological effects of abortion are far more diverse and nuanced and that most women do not experience traumatic psychological outcomes after an abortion. This site of memory aims to critically examine the myth of trauma surrounding the effects of abortion on women, exploring the origins, implications, and empirical evidence behind this belief. By delving into the multidimensional nature of women’s experiences with abortion, one is able to shed light on the complexity of the issue and gain a more in-depth understanding of the interactions between abortion and its effect on women’s mental health.
Abortion has morphed into an issue that most US citizens will possess a strong opinion about, whether or not that individual is completely educated about the history and policy surrounding it. This leads to many misconceptions being spread concerning abortion and its effects after the procedure. These examples of discourse can be classified as abortion misinformation and abortion disinformation [6]. Abortion misinformation is the “unintentional spread of false or misleading information about the physical and psychological risks or consequences of getting an abortion.” Abortion disinformation is “similar but is intentionally spread to promote an antiabortion agenda.” The spread of disinformation is increasingly difficult to combat due to the exponential growth of social media in the last 20 years.
There has been widespread mention of an alleged “Abortion Trauma Syndrome” in various forms of media, including written material, television, and radio programs. For instance, leaflets cautioning about the negative physical and emotional effects of abortion have been circulated in US cities. One such leaflet states, “Most often women will feel the consequences of her decision within days of her abortion. If they don’t appear immediately, they will appear as she ages.[1]” Research has shown that the majority of information individuals may seek online about abortion is not reliable, and will commonly promote disinformation that aims to misform and thwart abortion access. These narratives can progress to become truths due to our internet system’s inadequate checks and balances of big data. Studies show the highest volume of online searches about abortion are in the states with the most restricted access [2]. Even a change in local policy on abortion in the U.S. is associated with more attempts to find abortion information online [3].
“Abortion and Mental Health” by Brenda Major and Mark Appelbaum, published in 1992, provides a comprehensive review of research on the psychological effects of abortion [4]. The authors conclude that most women who have abortions do not experience long-term psychological harm. The evidence did not support the claim that observed associations between abortion and mental health problems are caused by abortion per se as opposed to other preexisting and co-occurring risk factors. They highlight that many studies that claimed to find a link between abortion and psychological harm suffer from methodological limitations, including inadequate control for confounding factors, lack of random assignment to abortion or childbirth groups, and failure to account for pre-existing mental health issues. Major and Applebaum emphasize the importance of using rigorous scientific methods to study the psychological effects of abortion, as well as considering the contextual factors that may influence women’s experiences, such as their reasons for seeking an abortion, their support systems, and their access to post-abortion care.
One longitudinal study followed women who were seeking an abortion for a first-trimester unintended pregnancy [5]. Pre-abortion and post-abortion depression and self-esteem, post-abortion emotions, decision satisfaction, perceived harm and benefit, and post-traumatic stress disorder were assessed. Demographic variables and prior mental health were examined as predictors of post-abortion psychological responses. The results were that depression decreased and self-esteem increased from pre to post-abortion, but negative emotions increased and decision satisfaction decreased over time. The study concluded that “most women do not experience psychological problems or regret their abortion 2 years post-abortion, but some do. Those who do tend to be women with a prior history of depression.”
It is important to recognize that while the majority of women do not experience long-term psychological harm after abortion, there are some women who may experience emotional distress related to their decision. Women’s experiences with abortion are complex and multifaceted, and it is crucial to consider the individual and contextual factors that may influence their psychological responses. Factors such as pre-existing mental health issues, lack of support from partners or family, societal stigma, or religious beliefs may impact how a woman perceives and copes with her decision to have an abortion. It is also important to acknowledge that societal and cultural factors can play a significant role in shaping women’s experiences with abortion, including the stigmatization and discrimination that some women may face, which can contribute to psychological distress.
It is crucial to differentiate between the psychological effects of the abortion procedure and the impact of external factors such as stigma, lack of support, or societal pressure. Research has shown that the overwhelming majority of women who have abortions do not experience long-term psychological harm directly caused by the abortion procedure. Rather, the psychological distress some women may experience is often related to these external factors and not inherently tied to the abortion procedure.
The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal and complex, and the experiences and emotions associated with it can vary greatly among individuals. Some women may feel relief, while others may experience sadness, guilt, or a sense of loss. The indisputable fact that not all women experience post-traumatic stress following an induced abortion should show lawmakers and the US public that abortion should be a woman’s choice and that their experience not be generalized across all female populations.
References:
[1] Pro-Life Action Ministries. What They Won’t Tell You at the Abortion Clinic . St Paul, Minn: undated. Leaflet.
[2] Guendelman S, Pleasants E, Cheshire C, Kong A. Exploring Google Searches for Out-of-Clinic Medication Abortion in the United States During 2020: Infodemiology Approach Using Multiple Samples. JMIR Infodemiology 2022;2(1):e33184
[3] Reis, B.Y., Brownstein, J.S. Measuring the impact of health policies using Internet search patterns: the case of abortion. BMC Public Health 10, 514 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-514
[4] Abortion and mental health – american psychological association. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/amp-64-9-863.pdf
[5] Major B, Cozzarelli C, Cooper ML, Zubek J, Richards C, Wilhite M, Gramzow RH. Psychological responses of women after first-trimester abortion. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000 Aug;57(8):777-84. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.57.8.777. PMID: 10920466.
[6] American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Misinformation and disinformation. American Psychological Association. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/misinformation-disinformation
Hi, this is a great entry regarding the myths revolving around abortion and the effects due to them. After reading, I think it is crucial that more studies are done, as well as more surveys, so that we can have a better understanding and answer to this complex issue as clearly the current studies fail to completely solve it. Overall, your entry was done very well, and the topic was one that got me thinking- which is definitely the point! Great work.
Olivia,
While doing the research for my paper, I also came across a resource that mentioned how abortions do not often lead to regret even if the pregnancy were to be welcome if it had occurred under a set of different circumstances. You mentioned that there were studies in which they concluded that abortion does play a role in mental health yet their results may not be entirely valid since they lack a control group and other factors needed in an experiment. I wonder how the opposing anti-abortion groups have found these flawed surveys to be useable in their efforts to fight against Roe v Wade.
I really enjoyed reading your research on this topic and the way the memory of Roe V. Wade has changed over time. The way you speak on social media I feel encompasses the reasons so much of the discussion on abortions has shifted. I feel that while social media has given the power to spread misinformation, it’s important to note the many good things it has done for the cause of pro-choice. Organizations like the Redstockings now have a wide range of ways to set up funds and rallies in support of abortions. I feel that as society continues to grow and change both good and bad products will be created by the new forms of social communication created.
I really enjoyed reading your post and really enjoyed the studies that were included, particularly the one that followed women who were seeking abortions. I find it interesting that when it comes to pro-life groups they utilize the negative effects from abortions but according to the study you mentioned those that faced depression later had a history of depression and the other women did not face any. Of course more studies would have to be done for this to be conclusive but I had never heard of this study before.
I also like how you brought attention to the use of social media, as we talked about social media and the internet being a form of vernacular memory. As you said, it can be hard to find accurate information about abortions and especially with the spreading of misinformation and disinformation.
Finally, I throughly enjoyed your conclusion paragraph as it brought the information to a gentle close while restating your point that women may experience all kinds of emotions as women are individuals and will experience abortions and their aftermath differently
Throughout reading your post a lot of the thought in the back of my mind was focused on the very personal experience that an abortion is. Due to abortion being a form of healthcare, there are going to be obvious symptoms after such, but to declare this trauma syndrome feels like a scare tactic into not going through with an abortion. Additionally, many people who have abortions are made to feel guilty for their decision. The narrative that people should feel as though they endured trauma after an abortion is harmful to those that feel relief. How can they be left to feel like a normal individual with normal emotional responses if they are not responding the way that they are being told to? Overall I think that it is wrong to perpetuate guilt into the lives of people because the choice is so personal and involves a million different factors that affect an emotional response or lack thereof.
I thought that this was a very intriguing topic and I really enjoyed reading your post. I have always thought that this argument that all women will face negative psychological effects after an abortion was ridiculous because all people, men or women, handle stimuli differently. I enjoyed seeing actual scientific evidence to support this thought. Like you said, I think that the stigma around receiving an abortion and lack of support likely play a big role in negative feelings after an abortion rather than the actual procedure itself.
Addressing a myth of abortion was a very intriguing approach to address the topic of Roe v. Wade. From what I read it seems like the disinformation provided about the after effects of an abortion procedure is a form of manipulation. When it is put out into the media it could also be considered a form of fake news. It was also understood that the abortion procedure does not equal depression, but factors prior to the procedure are what cause mental illness. Although this poses a question. What if a women had cured depression then later had an abortion which led to another depressive episode. Does that not mean that procedure triggered the illness, meaning that undergoing the procedure caused the suffering of psychological trauma? If the answer is yes then should women who have a history of psychological trauma be educated further on the possible after affects of the procedure?
The religion and family aspect of abortions are no joke. There was a girl in my hometown who was extremely nice and compassionate to everyone. She was the kind of girl who sat on the front row of pews every single week and knew everybody. She was active in the church community, was a grade ahead of me in school and got pregnant at 16. She tried to hide it, as well as get an abortion, but her parents made her bring the baby to term. The whole church started treating her differently and it was pitiful to watch. She was only sixteen and her life is on a very different track now. She just messed up doing something teenagers were designed to do and I know her well enough to know she isn’t happy and it breaks my heart.