State restrictions or outright bans on abortions are putting women’s psychological and medical health at risk. Fifty years of psychological research showcase the harmful effects of abortion denial and provide public health leaders with valuable insights on how to promote women’s reproductive rights and foster maternal and child health. Key findings from research studies show that, despite claims to the contrary, having an abortion is not linked to mental health problems.
THE LATEST PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
In a five-year, longitudinal study of more than 1000 women across 21 states, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that those who had abortions were no more likely to report negative emotions, mental health symptoms, or suicidal thoughts than those who were denied an abortion.1 Five years later, 99% of those who obtained an abortion felt that they had made the right decision, and their most common emotional reaction was relief.
Moreover, women denied abortions have more psychological problems than those who receive them. For example, Biggs et al. found that women who wanted to get an abortion, but were denied one, initially experienced more anxiety symptoms and stress, lower self-esteem, and less life satisfaction than those who received one.2 Over time, those same women developed more physical health problems than those who received abortions, and two of them later died from complications related to childbirth.3
ECONOMIC ISSUES PROMOTING DISTRESS
Women denied abortions also face greater economic hardships. In their summary of research derived from Turnaway Study, the Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health group at the University of California, San Francisco, noted that women who were denied abortions struggled more financially than those who received an abortion, as evidenced by lower credit scores, more bankruptcies and evictions, and higher poverty rates.4 These women were also more likely to remain with a violent partner or to raise children alone.
The children of unwanted pregnancies suffer the consequences as well. Because mothers denied abortions are more likely to live in poverty, their children also live in poverty. These children fail to bond well with their mothers, which is connected to poorer outcomes both immediately and later in life.5 These children also have more social, emotional, and mental health problems over time, and are more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric problems than their siblings or than children whose pregnancies were planned.6,7
Travel for abortion exacts additional psychological and financial tolls. State bans or restrictions on abortion create barriers for those seeking to obtain the procedure. These barriers lead to greater stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as a loss of autonomy—for example, having to tell someone that they were traveling to get the procedure.8 Indeed, obtaining an abortion is hardest on those with the fewest resources. The new abortion restrictions highlight the harsh reality of health inequities. Women who are least able to access or pay for abortions—those living in poverty, people of color, people in rural areas, sexual and gender minorities, and young people—are most likely to be adversely affected by abortion bans.9,10
In sum, psychological research shows the best strategy to prevent mental health issues for women seeking abortions is to make them safe, affordable, and accessible.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Footnotes
REFERENCES
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