The Characteristics and Severity of Psychological Distress After Abortion Among University Students
- PDF / 170,568 Bytes
- 15 Pages / 496.063 x 720 pts Page_size
- 51 Downloads / 207 Views
Introduction Approximately 42 million women worldwide obtain legal, induced abortions each year.1 While many women experience emotional relief after abortion, over 30% experience significant psychological distress that does not remit over time.2 Psychological distress after abortion includes higher rates of suicidal behavior,3–6 depression,4,7–9 anxiety,3,10 post-traumatic stress,11–14 and substance abuse disorders15 after abortion, compared with other pregnancy outcomes. Specifically, young women under age 25 years are at highest risk for developing mental health problems after abortions, with one study estimating that psychological distress after abortion (PAD) occurs in up to 40% of these cases.16 While several studies found that pre-existing psychological problems are Address correspondence to Maureen Curley, PhD, PMHCNS, BC, Department of Healthcare Environments and Systems, College of Nursing, Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy Complex, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100187, Gainesville, FL 32610-0187, USA. Phone: +1-352-2736417; Fax: +1-352-2736577; Email: maureencurley@ufl.edu. Celeste Johnston, N Ed D, School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Phone: +1-514-3984144; Fax: +1-514-3988455; Email: [email protected]
)
Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 2013. 279–293. c 2013 National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. DOI 10.1007/s11414-013-9328-0
Psychological Distress After Abortion Among University Students
CURLY, JOHNSTON
279
highly correlated to the severity of post-abortion distress,17,18 this generalization may not apply to younger women, who develop post-abortion distress primarily because of their youth as well as their emotional response to the abortion experience. Because of young women’s developmental stage, they are vulnerable to a number of risk factors associated with post-abortion mental health problems. Certain factors that are specific to this age group that can effectively predict post-abortion distress include younger age,19 single relationship status, lack of social support,20 concealment of the unwanted pregnancy and abortion, social pressure to have an abortion,21 immature coping skills,16 and repetitive abortions.22 Repetitive abortions among younger women often occur as the result of their tendency to behaviorally act out emotions of guilt, grief, anger, or confusion after a first abortion, as compared with adult women who verbalize such emotions.16 Acting out behaviors after abortion include engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, such as unprotected, indiscriminate, and promiscuous sexual encounters, which often lead to more unintended pregnancies and abortions, as well as self-destructive behaviors and suicidal behaviors. Indeed, because women worldwide under age 25 years are most likely to experience their first abortion1 and have a 40% chance of experiencing another,23 young women are at high risk for experiencing PAD. However, another risk factor, and one that is often overlooked, stems from the onset of the reproductive phas
Data Loading...
