The Unwanted Abortion Studies are an ongoing investigation of the relationship between different pregnancy outcomes (including induced abortion, miscarriage, delivery of an unplanned pregnancy, and delivery of a wanted pregnancy) and associated psychological distress, decision satisfaction, and suicide risk.[1-5] Currently, the implemented studies have been based on national random samples of American females aged 41-45. This older age group was chosen to capture the bulk of most women's reproductive lives and to eliminate, for now, the confounding effects which would appear with a mixed age group.
These studies utilized a retrospective survey methodology, employing sensitive 101-point visual analog scales to measure women's self-assessments of their experiences. The high response rate regarding abortion history (21.2% to 22.6% reported having had an abortion) suggests a relatively low concealment bias compared to typical national surveys, thereby increasing the reliability of the findings.
The findings collectively reveal strong associations between the nature of the abortion decision (i.e., whether it was wanted or unwanted/coerced) and subsequent mental health and emotional outcomes.
A core finding is that abortion experiences are not monolithic; they vary greatly depending on whether the decision aligns with the woman's personal values and preferences.