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The study looked at California women who received state funded medical
care and who either had an abortion or gave birth in 1989. Researchers
examined the women's medical records for up to six years afterwards and
found that women who had undergone abortions had significantly higher
mental health claims than women who had given birth. Women who had
abortions were more than twice as likely to have two to nine treatments
for mental health as were women who carried to term.
According to the authors, Dr. Priscilla Coleman, a psychology professor
at the University of the South, and Dr. David Reardon, director of the
Elliot Institute: "the data presented in this report suggest that when
compared to birth, abortion is associated with a significantly greater
risk for psychological disturbance among low income women."
Reardon said that the study avoided many problems that have plagued
other post-abortion studies in the past, such as small sample sizes and
a limited time frame. "Most other studies have only followed women for a
few months at most," Reardon said. "However, the few long-term studies
that have been done shows that many women's problems don't start
cropping up until at least a year or so after the abortion, often when
they reach the expected due date of the child or the anniversary of the
abortion itself. By examining a larger period of time, this study was
able to get a broader look at the association between abortion and
subsequent mental health problems."
Yet another new study that presented at the APS conference by
researchers from the University at Albany in New York found that teens
who had children were as well or better adjusted than teens who did not
have children. Compared to their non-parenting peers, the teen moms in
the study had fewer mental disorders, reported less stress, were less
likely than their peers to engage in denial as a coping strategy, were
less dependent on social support and reported greater satisfaction with
the support they did receive.
"These two studies clearly contradict the popular notion that abortion
benefits women in general and teens in particular," said Reardon.
"Giving birth to a child is a naturally maturing experience. By
contrast, abortion increases the risk of subsequent psychological
problems, including a six fold higher risk of substance abuse as
reported in one of our previous studies."
Citations:
Coleman, P. K., & Reardon, D. (June, 2000). "State-funded abortions vs.
deliveries: A comparison of subsequent mental health claims over six
years." Poster presented at the American Psychological Society, 12th
Annual Convention, Miami, FL.
Hanna, D. R., Lowe K. A., Leslie F. H. (June, 2000) "Pregnancy, coping
strategies and stress: Are teenage mothers really more at-risk?" Poster
presented at the American Psychological Society, 12th Annual Convention, Miami, FL.
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