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Termination of pregnancy does not fuel depression in teens-- study
by Jamie Anderson - September 27, 2010 - comments
A new study reveals that there is no connection between abortion and depression in teens.
Teenage girls who plan to abort unwanted pregnancies are no more likely to be depressed or have low self-esteem than their peers who choose not to terminate pregnancy, findings of a new study say.
The stress of pregnancy itself can cause depression, but psychological outcomes of pregnancy among adolescents were not evaluated till date, claims Jocelyn, a post-doctoral research associate at OSU and lead study author.
"We know most teen pregnancies are not wanted pregnancies and an unwanted pregnancy can be very stressful," Warren averred.
"What we didn't know was whether psychological outcomes are worse for girls who choose abortion. This study says, 'No.'"
The findings of the present study are published online ahead of print in the December issue of 'Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.'
Details of the study
For the study, researchers at the Oregon State University, and colleagues at University of California, San Francisco, reviewed data of 289 pregnant adolescents who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
“Individual women may have very different emotional responses to abortion. But, on average, abortion does not appear to have major psychological consequences - for adult women or for teens," Warren said.
The participants had responded to three surveys, at the beginning of the study, a year later and then five years later.
Researchers found that pregnant teenagers who opted for abortion were no more likely to become depressed or have low self-esteem than girls who were pregnant, but did not abort their pregnancy.
The rates of depression or low self esteem were same for both group, who terminated their pregnancy and those who continued with it, at all three points of the study, start, a year later and five years later, researchers said.
Abortion still a controversial subject
While the findings of the study clear abortions off emotional havoc, it’s important to note that not all women react to abortion the same.
"Individual women may have very different emotional responses to abortion. But, on average, abortion does not appear to have major psychological consequences - for adult women or for teens," Warren said.
Experts believe that the best option for a woman is to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
Data available with the Guttmacher Institute suggests that close to 33 percent of teen pregnancies end in abortion.
The authors conclude, "Paradoxically, laws mandating that women considering abortion be advised of its psychological risks may jeopardize women's health by adding unnecessary anxiety and undermining women's right to informed consent."