Violence in the lives of women having abortions: Implications for practice and public policy.

Abstract

What do professional psychologists need to know to treat women who once had an abortion? Analyses of responses from 2,525 women revealed that women who reported an abortion were more likely than others to report symptoms of depression and lower life satisfaction. However, they were also more likely to experience rape, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and a violent partner. When history of abuse, partner characteristics, and background variables were controlled, abortion was not related to poorer mental health. This underscores the need to explore the effects of violence in women's lives to avoid misattributing psychological distress to abortion experiences.Nearly 1 out of 4 women (24%) in the United States experience some form of affective disorder in their lifetimes, a rate 1.6 times that of men (15%; Kessler et al., 1994). Similarly, women have higher lifetime rates of anxiety disorders than do men: 33% versus 19% (Kessler et al., 1994). Women's higher rates of depression and anxiety cannot be fully explained by biological factors, suggesting that their causes lie in differential roles and life circumstances for women and men McGrath, Keita, Strickland, & Russo, 1990;.Abortion is one of the realities of women's lives. Approximately 1 out of 5 American women have experienced abortion, and although rates have declined slightly, abortion continues to play an essential role in enabling women in the United States to time, space, and limit their births (Henshaw, 1998). Given the high rates of women who experience depression, it is not surprising that some women who have had an abortion also report symptoms of depression and anxiety (

More than one abortion

“…62 All women requesting abortion should be offered prophylaxis against pelvic infection and ideally screening for sexually transmitted infections. 8 As all women seeking abortion, regardless of previous abortion history, are at higher risk of intimate partner violence, 38,[63][64][65][66][67] health professionals assessing such women should have an awareness of such an association and liaise with professional colleagues if there are concerns. Sometimes an abusing male is the escort.…”

Analyse féministe du syndrome postavortement : la déconstruction d’un mythe véhiculé par le mouvement pro-vie

“…Cela dit, même si une grossesse non désirée ne se termine pas toujours en avortement, un avortement est généralement conduit dans un contexte angoissant; différencier les effets de l'avortement et ceux d'une grossesse non désirée constitue donc une tâche ardue pour les chercheurs (Russo et Denious, 2001). D'ailleurs, les femmes qui ressentent une pression de la part du réseau familial ou social quant à la poursuite ou à l'interruption de leur grossesse ont généralement une expérience plus difficile que celles qui bénéficient du soutien de leur entourage (Major, et collab., 2008).…”

“…De plus, la violence conjugale ainsi que la violence physique ou sexuelle durant l'enfance ont des conséquences importantes sur l'estime de soi des femmes, qui peuvent difficilement négocier des rapports sexuels sécuritaires, ce qui pourrait expliquer une forte représentation dans les cliniques d'avortement de celles qui ont vécu de la violence sous toutes ses formes (Russo et Denious, 2001;Romito, et collab., 2009). Les femmes qui en sont à un troisième avortement ou plus sont 2,5 fois plus à risque que celles qui en sont à leur premier avortement d'être victimes de violence conjugale et de dévoiler une histoire d'abus sexuel (Fisher, et collab., 2005).…”

“…La majorité des femmes ayant un avortement en contexte de violence conjugale ont également moins de soutien de la part du conjoint et, par souci de protection, ne lui révèlent pas toujours la grossesse ou l'avortement (Russo et Denious, 2001). Leur soutien social étant déjà limité par la présence de violence, ces femmes se retrouvent souvent seules et ne bénéficient que d'un faible réseau social, pourtant important dans le processus de guérison.…”

Abortion and Mental Health: Evaluating the Evidence

“…Using data from the Health of American Women Survey, Russo and Denious (2001) reported that, compared with other women, a larger percentage of women who reported an abortion also reported experiencing suicidal thoughts in the past year, having a doctor give them a diagnosis of anxiety or depression in the past 5 years, higher depressive symptoms, and lower life satisfaction. When violence history and relevant demographic and partner variables were controlled, however, abortion was no longer significantly related to any of these outcomes.…”