By Dr. David Reardon
Depression among women after
an unintended first pregnancy is linked to whether they have an abortion
or carry to term.
Data from a national study
of American youths, begun in 1979, was used to conduct the research. In
1992, a subset of 4,463 women were surveyed about depression and unintended
pregnancy.
Among married women, those
who previously carried an unintended first pregnancy to term were at less
risk of subsequent depression than women who aborted. Rates
of depression scores were comparable among unmarried women.
This may be due to the stress
unmarried women may experience in raising a child without support or it
may be related to this group's higher rate of concealing past abortions.
Since shame, secrecy, and thought
suppression regarding an abortion are all associated with greater post-abortion
depression, anxiety, and hostility, the high rate of concealing past abortions
in this group (60% overall), means that these results may under represent
the full effect of abortion on subsequent depression.
British
Medical Journal January 19, 2002; 324: 151-152