title: Existential experiences and needs related to induced abortion in a group of Swedish women: a quantitative investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of existential experiences and needs among women who have requested an induced abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was used to collect information from 499 women who had requested an induced abortion. A principle component analysis resulted in three components of existential experiences and needs: existential thoughts, existential practices, and humanisation of the foetus. These components were analysed in relation to background data and other data from the questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Existential experiences and needs were common. For 61% of women existential thoughts about life and death, meaning and morality were related to the abortion experience. Almost 50% of women reported a need for special acts in relation to the abortion; 67% of women thought of the pregnancy in terms of a child. A higher presence of existential components correlated to difficulty in making the abortion decision and poor psychological wellbeing after the abortion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's experiences of abortion can include existential thoughts about life, death, meaning and morality, feelings of attachment to the foetus, and the need for symbolic expression. This presents a challenge for abortion personnel, as the situation involves complex aspects over and above medical procedures and routines.
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University, Department of Theology, Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre, Sweden. maria.liljas@crs.uu.se
authors.forename: Maria Liljas
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stålhandske
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makenzius
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tydén
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003210:Concept Formation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions; D005086:Existentialism; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden