Table 4.
Results of significant univariate tests for MANOVAs and MANCOVAs performed on individual PTSD items.
| PTSD Item | Early Abortion | Late Abortion | P-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | SD | Mean | SD | ||
| Mean | SE | Mean | SE | ||
| Disturbing memories, thoughts, images | |||||
| Repeated disturbing dreams | .29 | .452 | .43 | .501 | P = .042 |
| .30 | .031 | .48 | .078 | P = .033* | |
| Reliving abortion | .21 | .409 | .41 | .498 | P = .003 |
| .22 | .028 | .41 | .070 | P = .016* | |
| Upset with reminder of abortion | |||||
| Physical reaction when reminded of abortion | |||||
| Avoided thinking about abortion | |||||
| Avoided activities that were reminders of the abortion | |||||
| Trouble remembering parts of abortion | |||||
| Loss of interest in activities | |||||
| Felt distant from others | |||||
| Felt emotionally numb | .57 | .496 | .74 | .443 | P = .029 |
| Felt future would be cut short because of abortion | |||||
| Trouble falling or staying asleep | .42 | .494 | .59 | .498 | P = .032 |
| .42 | .032 | .62 | .081 | P = .021* | |
| Irritable or angry outbursts | |||||
| Difficulty concentrating | |||||
| Super alert or watchful since abortion | .32 | .466 | .52 | .505 | P = .007 |
| Jumpy or easily startled since abortion | .34 | .476 | .50 | .506 | P = .040 |
*Controls for race, marital status at the time of the abortion, number of years of formal education, number of abortions, number of years since the target abortion, having received mental health counseling before the abortion, having been hospitalized for emotional problems before the abortion, meaningfulness of the respondent's religion, and a childhood or adult history of physical or sexual abuse.