Reasons for induced abortion and their relation to women's emotional distress: a prospective, two-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to identify the most important reasons for induced abortion and to examine their relationship to emotional distress at follow-up.


METHODS
Eighty women were included in the study. The women were interviewed 10 days, 6 months (T2) and 2 years (T3) after they underwent an abortion. At all time points, the participants completed the Impact of Event Scale and a questionnaire about feelings connected to the abortion.


RESULTS
Reasons related to education, job and finances were highly rated. Also, "a child should be wished for," "male partner does not favour having a child at the moment," "tired, worn out" and "have enough children" were important reasons. "Pressure from male partner" was listed as the 11th most important reason. When the reasons for abortion and background variables were included in multiple regression analyses, the strongest predictor of emotional distress at T2 and T3 was "pressure from male partner."


CONCLUSIONS
Male pressure on women to have an induced abortion has a significant, negative influence on women's psychological responses in the 2 years following the event. Women who gave the reason "have enough children" for choosing abortion reported slightly better psychological outcomes at T3.
Broen
Anne Nordal
AN
Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Sciences in Medicine, University of Oslo, Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway. a.n.broen@medisin.uio.no
Moum
Torbjörn
T
Bödtker
Anne Sejersted
AS
Ekeberg
Oivind
O
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires