|
PSYCHOLOGICAL
REACTIONS REPORTED AFTER ABORTION
David C. Reardon, Ph.D., Elliot Institute
This survey instrument was distributed to women who had
contact with WEBA, Victims of Choice, or Last Harvest Ministries. The latter two
organizations used it as an intake form for women inquiring about post-abortion counseling
or crisis pregnancy counseling. Compared to women who received the questionnaire from
these latter two sources, the 111 participants from the WEBA distribution were
significantly more likely to have already participated in post-abortion healing programs,
and were significantly more likely to report feeling "reconciled with" their
abortion "today" (56.1% vs 13.9%).
Using chi-square tests for significance, women who had at
least one abortion as a teen were significantly more likely to report: nightmares;
flashbacks to the abortion; hysterical outbreaks; unforgiveness of those involved;
feelings of guilt; fear of punishment from God; fear of harm coming upon their other
children; a worsening of negative feelings about the abortion on the anniversary date of
the abortion, during a later pregnancy, or when exposed to pro-choice propaganda;
preoccupation with thoughts of the child they could have had; excessive interest in
pregnant women; excessive interest in babies; experiencing false pregnancies; a dramatic
personality change for the worse; a waking or sleeping "visitation" from the
aborted child; having talked to the aborted child prior to the abortion.
Women who aborted as teens were significantly less likely to
report: a history of professional counseling prior to their abortion; that the memory of
the abortion has faded with time; having undergone surgical sterilization to avoid the
risk of another abortion; feeling more in touch with their feelings after the abortion;
feelings of hatred toward all men.
Women who reported having had more than one abortion were
significantly more likely to report: a history of being physically abused as a child; a
period of strong feelings of relief after the abortion; being pro-choice after the
abortion; hatred of the man who made them pregnant; ending the relationship with their
partner after the abortion; difficulty in maintaining and developing personal
relationships; becoming promiscuous; being self-destructive; beginning to use or
increasing the use of drugs after the abortion; feelings of anxiety; fear of God; fear of
another pregnancy; fear of needing another abortion; fear for unknown reasons; frequently
experiencing heavy bleeding after the abortion; emotional aftereffects of the abortion
which were so severe that there was a period in which they could not function normally at
home, work, or in personal relationships; having experienced a nervous breakdown at some
time after the abortion.
Women with a history of multiple abortions were significantly
less likely to report: that the memory of their abortion was vividly clear; a worsening of
abortion related feelings on the anniversary date of the abortion or the due date of the
pregnancy.
The following are the summary statistics to
all questions, for all respondents.
SURVEY OF REACTIONS
TO ABORTION
A total of 260 women participated in this survey. Most
questions are answered on a Likert scale between 1 and 5 indicating the range of the
subjects agreement or disagreement with a statement regarding a particular reaction to
their abortion. Since some women skipped questions which they felt were not applicable to
them, or did not want to answer, or answered in a form that could not be coded, each item
is accompanied by a number in parenthesis (N) which indicates the number of women who
responded to that question. The percentages given correspond to this (N).
Section 1
| Present age: |
| <20 |
20-24 |
25-29 |
30-34 |
35-39 |
>39 |
| 2.7% |
11.2% |
27.0% |
24.3% |
23.9% |
10.8% |
(N = 259) Avg: 32.0 yrs
| Race or ethnic origin: |
| White |
Non-White |
| 92.3% |
7.7% |
(N = 255)
| State of residence: |
Respondents from 35 states |
| Highest grade
completed: |
| <12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
>17 |
| 7.5% |
40.2% |
12.2% |
17.7% |
1.6% |
16.9% |
1.2% |
2.8% |
(N = 254) Avg: 13.6 yrs
| How old were you at
the time of your abortion? |
| <15 |
15-19 |
20-24 |
25-29 |
30-34 |
>35 |
| 1.9% |
40.1% |
36.2% |
15.6% |
4.3% |
1.9% |
(N = 257) Avg: 21.5 yrs
| Time since abortion,
in years: (a calculated field) |
| <6 |
6-10 |
11-15 |
16-20 |
>20 |
| 19.8% |
33.1% |
31.1% |
12.1% |
3.9% |
(N = 257) Avg: 10.6 yrs
Was
your abortion.. . . |
| LEGAL or |
ILLEGAL? |
(Indicated one of each) |
92.1% |
7.1% |
.8% |
(N = 251)
| How many abortions have
you had? |
| One |
Two |
Three |
Four or more |
| 73.6% |
17.8% |
5% |
3.5% |
(N = 258)
| Marital status at that
time: |
| Single |
Married |
Engaged |
Separated/Divorced |
| 64.6% |
15.4% |
7.1% |
13.0% |
(N = 254)
| How many weeks pregnant
were you at that time? |
| <5 |
5-6 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
11-12 |
13-16 |
16-20 |
>20 |
| 7.7% |
11.7% |
28.3% |
16.2% |
21.1% |
10.9% |
2.4% |
1.6% |
(N = 247) Avg: 9.6 wks
| How many children did
you have at that time? |
| Zero |
One |
Two |
Three |
Over Three |
| 74.2% |
13.8% |
8.5% |
2.7% |
0% |
(N = 260)
| What type of abortion
procedure was used? |
| Suction |
D & C |
Saline/ Prostaglandin |
Other |
| 80.0% |
13.5% |
3.7% |
2.9% |
(N = 245)
| Were you awake during
the procedure? |
| Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 79.6% |
18.8% |
1.6% |
(N = 255)
| Were you given pain
killers or anesthetics prior to the operation? |
| Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 54.7% |
32.0% |
13.3% |
(N = 256)
Section 2
The questions in the following section require an answer on a
scale of ranging from 5 to 1. Answer by circling number 5 if you strongly agree
with the statement, 4 if you agree , and 3 if you are uncertain . If you disagree
with the statement, circle number 2, and if you strongly disagree with the
statement or if the opposite was true in your case, circle number 1. If you believe the
question does not apply to you, leave it blank.
| |
(N) |
Strongly Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 1. |
Prior to my abortion, I believed
that abortion was a moral choice. |
(252) |
15.1% |
9.1% |
36.9% |
22.2% |
16.7% |
| 2. |
I believed abortion should be a legal option
for all women. |
(257) |
29.2% |
10.1% |
24.9% |
19.5% |
16.3% |
| 3. |
My choice to abort was consistent with my prior
beliefs about abortion. |
(254) |
36.2% |
17.3% |
18.5% |
16.1% |
11.8% |
| 4. |
My choice was inconsistent with my prior
beliefs. I felt my decision was a betrayal of my own ideals. |
(248) |
12.9% |
11.3% |
15.3% |
14.9% |
45.6% |
| 5. |
My decision to have an abortion was an
agonizing one. |
(256) |
8.4% |
11.6% |
7.2% |
18.5% |
54.2% |
| 6. |
Prior to my abortion I was a religious person. |
(259) |
16.6% |
19.7% |
17.0% |
26.3% |
20.5% |
| 7. |
There was a time prior to my abortion when I
received professional counseling for emotional or psychiatric difficulties. |
(248) |
59.7% |
12.9% |
4.0% |
10.1% |
13.3% |
| 8. |
The memory of my abortion has faded with time. |
(256) |
52.0% |
22.3% |
6.6% |
10.2% |
9.0% |
| 9. |
The memory of my abortion is vividly clear. |
(255) |
8.2% |
10.2% |
9.8% |
25.1% |
46.7% |
| 10. |
The abortion procedure was painful. |
(257) |
10.9% |
8.2% |
12.1% |
22.2% |
46.7% |
Section 3
The following is a checklist of possible post-abortion
reactions. Answers again range from 1, "Strongly Disagree," to 5, "Strongly
Agree." In general, answer 2 for NO , 3 for Uncertain , and 4 for YES . Only if you
experienced a severe reaction, should you answer with number 5. If you experienced a
strong reaction opposite to the one questioned, answer by circling number 1. If the
question is not applicable to your case, leave the question blank.
| AFTER MY ABORTION, I
EXPERIENCED FEELINGS OF: |
(N) |
Strongly Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 1. |
Guilt |
(256) |
0.4% |
2.3% |
4.7% |
31.3% |
61.3% |
| 2. |
Depression |
(255) |
0.4% |
3.9% |
7.5% |
35.7% |
52.5% |
| 3. |
Anger |
(255) |
1.2% |
9.0% |
9.0% |
35.7% |
45.1% |
| 4. |
Sorrow |
(255) |
0.4% |
2.4% |
5.5% |
36.5% |
55.3% |
| |
| 5. |
Happiness |
(241) |
62.2% |
22.4% |
7.9% |
5.4% |
2.1% |
| 6. |
Grief |
(255) |
0.8% |
5.5% |
9.0% |
40.8% |
43.9% |
| 7. |
Bitterness |
(251) |
3.2% |
8.8% |
13.5% |
34.7% |
39.8% |
| 8. |
Regret |
(257) |
1.9% |
3.5% |
9.7% |
32.7% |
52.1% |
| |
| 9. |
Rage |
(245) |
9.4% |
20.0% |
20.4% |
21.2% |
29.0% |
| 10. |
Anguish |
(245) |
2.0% |
7.8% |
14.3% |
37.1% |
38.8% |
| 11. |
Remorse |
(254) |
1.6% |
5.9% |
6.3% |
41.3% |
44.9% |
| 12. |
Power |
(237) |
58.6% |
23.2% |
12.2% |
3.8% |
2.1% |
| |
| 13. |
Despair |
(245) |
2.4% |
9.8% |
13.9% |
35.5% |
38.4% |
| 14. |
Shame |
(254) |
0.4% |
2.8% |
5.9% |
39.0% |
52.0% |
| 15. |
Horror |
(241) |
4.6% |
13.3% |
23.2% |
29.0% |
29.9% |
| 16. |
Unworthiness |
(254) |
1.6% |
3.9% |
8.7% |
33.5% |
52.4% |
| |
| 17. |
Loneliness |
(250) |
2.0% |
6.8% |
7.6% |
38.4% |
45.2% |
| 18. |
Hopelessness |
(247) |
2.0% |
11.3% |
13.4% |
32.0% |
41.3% |
| 19. |
Helplessness |
(248) |
2.0% |
14.1% |
11.7% |
31.5% |
40.7% |
| 20. |
Self-condemnation |
(251) |
1.2% |
2.4% |
5.6% |
33.9% |
57.0% |
| |
| 21. |
Liberation |
(234) |
44.4% |
25.2% |
16.7% |
11.5% |
2.1% |
| 22. |
Rejection |
(238) |
4.6% |
10.1% |
24.8% |
31.1% |
29.4% |
| 23. |
Confusion |
(250) |
1.2% |
6.4% |
11.6% |
44.4% |
36.4% |
| 24. |
Anxiety |
(248) |
1.6% |
6.5% |
10.5% |
43.5% |
37.9% |
| |
| 25. |
Constant stress |
(246) |
2.0% |
14.2% |
19.5% |
33.3% |
30.9% |
| 26. |
Withdrawal |
(245) |
2.9% |
15.5% |
16.7% |
33.1% |
31.8% |
| 27. |
Isolation |
(241) |
3.3% |
17.4% |
17.4% |
31.5% |
30.3% |
| 28. |
Sexual freedom |
(235) |
40.0% |
25.5% |
19.1% |
11.1% |
4.3% |
| |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 29. |
Self-hatred |
(250) |
2.8% |
6.8% |
13.6% |
33.2% |
43.6% |
| 30. |
Alienation from others |
(238) |
3.4% |
20.6% |
18.5% |
31.9% |
25.6% |
| 31. |
Inner peace |
(237) |
63.7% |
25.7% |
5.5% |
2.1% |
3.0% |
| 32. |
Unforgiveness of self |
(258) |
1.9% |
5.8% |
6.6% |
31.4% |
54.3% |
| |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 33. |
Unforgiveness of those involved |
(252) |
5.6% |
15.5% |
14.7% |
34.9% |
29.4% |
| 34. |
Having become degraded or debased |
(243) |
2.1% |
12.8% |
17.7% |
37.4% |
30.0% |
| 35. |
Having been exploited by other |
(243) |
2.9% |
15.2% |
19.3% |
30.9% |
31.7% |
| 36. |
Hatred of those involved |
(240) |
7.9% |
22.5% |
22.9% |
22.9% |
23.8% |
| |
| 37. |
Hatred of man who made me pregnant |
(249) |
15.3% |
29.7% |
20.1% |
16.9% |
18.1% |
| 38. |
Hatred of all men |
(243) |
23.0% |
33.7% |
19.8% |
15.2% |
8.2% |
| 39. |
Fear of punishment from God |
(249) |
4.4% |
12.0% |
13.3% |
34.9% |
35.3% |
| 40. |
Fear of harm to my other children |
(218) |
17.0% |
21.6% |
12.8% |
25.2% |
23.4% |
| |
| 41. |
Fear of another pregnancy |
(245) |
13.5% |
23.7% |
13.9% |
25.3% |
23.7% |
| 42. |
Fear of needing another abortion |
(244) |
24.2% |
28.7% |
12.3% |
15.2% |
19.7% |
| 43. |
Fear of touching babies |
(246) |
24.8% |
37.0% |
13.0% |
13.8% |
11.4% |
| 44. |
Fear of others learning of abortion |
(255) |
5.5% |
9.4% |
8.2% |
42.0% |
34.9% |
| |
| 45. |
Fear of making decisions |
(245) |
6.9% |
21.6% |
23.3% |
28.2% |
20.0% |
| 46. |
Fear for unknown reasons |
(245) |
6.1% |
16.3% |
20.8% |
28.6% |
28.2% |
| AFTER MY ABORTION, I
EXPERIENCED: |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 1. |
Nightmares |
(241) |
16.2% |
22.4% |
14.9% |
28.6% |
17.8% |
| 2. |
Insomnia |
(243) |
15.2% |
25.5% |
14.4% |
25.5% |
19.3% |
| 3. |
Flashbacks to the abortion |
(249) |
8.0% |
18.1% |
10.4% |
35.3% |
28.1% |
| 4. |
Hysterical outbreaks |
(244) |
11.1% |
25.4% |
12.7% |
22.5% |
28.3% |
| |
| 5. |
Uncontrollable weeping |
(242) |
5.8% |
14.5% |
9.9% |
35.5% |
34.3% |
| 6. |
Suicidal feelings |
(244) |
12.3% |
22.5% |
9.4% |
24.2% |
31.6% |
| 7. |
Greater closeness toward my lover |
(242) |
51.7% |
29.8% |
9.1% |
7.0% |
2.5% |
| 8. |
A loss of self-confidence |
(249) |
2.4% |
9.2% |
12.9% |
38.2% |
37.3% |
| 9. |
A loss of self-esteem |
(254) |
1.2% |
5.9% |
10.6% |
38.2% |
44.1% |
| |
|
| 10. |
A loss of dignity |
(251) |
1.2% |
8.0% |
10.4% |
42.2% |
38.2% |
| 11. |
A general sense of loss |
(253) |
1.6% |
4.3% |
7.9% |
42.3% |
43.9% |
| 12. |
Greater self-awareness |
(237) |
36.3% |
27.8% |
19.0% |
11.8% |
5.1% |
| |
| 13. |
Hallucinations related to abortion |
(233) |
30.0% |
41.6% |
13.7% |
6.9% |
7.7% |
| 14. |
Eating disorders such as bulimia anorexia, or
binge eating. |
(241) |
22.4% |
31.5% |
7.5% |
20.3% |
18.3% |
| 15. |
A general sense of emptiness |
(248) |
1.6% |
7.7% |
7.3% |
42.7% |
40.7% |
| 16. |
A loss of sympathy for others |
(242) |
16.5% |
22.7% |
21.5% |
22.7% |
16.5% |
| |
| 17. |
A compulsion to be a perfect mother |
(231) |
10.0% |
19.0% |
21.2% |
24.7% |
25.1% |
| 18. |
An inability to keep jobs |
(232) |
27.6% |
33.6% |
14.2% |
15.9% |
8.6% |
| 19. |
A loss of concentration |
(236) |
8.9% |
22.5% |
21.2% |
29.2% |
18.2% |
| 20. |
A difficulty in maintaining and developing
personal relationships |
(246) |
9.3% |
19.5% |
14.2% |
30.1% |
26.8% |
| AFTER MY ABORTION, I
BECAME: |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 1. |
Preoccupied with thoughts of death. |
(243) |
14.4% |
29.6% |
13.2% |
20.6% |
22.2% |
| 2. |
Preoccupied with thoughts of the child I could
have had. |
(252) |
5.6% |
12.7% |
10.3% |
34.9% |
36.5% |
| 3. |
Excessively interested in pregnant women. |
(243) |
21.0% |
33.7% |
15.2% |
17.7% |
12.3% |
| 4. |
Excessively interested in babies. |
(244) |
18.9% |
28.3% |
15.2% |
19.3% |
18.4% |
| NEGATIVE FEELINGS
ABOUT MY ABORTION BECAME WORSE: |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 1. |
On the due date of pregnancy. |
(238) |
10.9% |
25.6% |
20.6% |
21.8% |
21.0% |
| 2. |
On the anniversary of the abortion. |
(235) |
11.5% |
17.4% |
19.6% |
26.4% |
25.1% |
| 3. |
During a later pregnancy. |
(199) |
16.1% |
18.1% |
11.1% |
28.6% |
26.1% |
| 4. |
At the birth of a later child. |
(200) |
19.5% |
21.0% |
10.5% |
23.0% |
26.0% |
| 5. |
At the time of a later miscarriage. |
(151) |
33.8% |
28.5% |
10.6% |
11.3% |
15.9% |
| 6. |
When I later tried to get pregnant. |
(181) |
24.3% |
24.3% |
11.0% |
19.9% |
20.4% |
| 7. |
When exposed to pro-life propaganda. |
(242) |
8.3% |
9.9% |
5.0% |
38.8% |
38.0% |
| 8. |
When exposed to pro-choice propaganda. |
(227) |
10.6% |
15.0% |
9.3% |
31.3% |
33.9% |
| 9. |
When exposed to information in the mass media
about fetal development. |
(239) |
7.1% |
8.4% |
7.9% |
34.3% |
42.3% |
| AFTER MY ABORTION: |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 1. |
I felt more in touch with my
emotions. |
(247) |
37.7% |
36.4% |
14.2% |
6.1% |
5.7% |
| 2. |
I felt a need to block out and stifle my
feelings. |
(250) |
3.2% |
6.8% |
10.8% |
35.2% |
44.0% |
| 3. |
I needed to "force" myself to be
happy. |
(250) |
2.0% |
10.8% |
17.6% |
38.8% |
30.8% |
| 4. |
I felt unable to grieve. |
(248) |
8.5% |
17.7% |
13.7% |
35.1% |
25.0% |
| 5. |
My attitude toward life became more callused or
hardened. |
(245) |
5.3% |
11.4% |
17.6% |
35.5% |
30.2% |
| 6. |
I felt more in control of my life. |
(244) |
41.8% |
41.4% |
9.4% |
3.7% |
3.7% |
| 7. |
I started losing my temper more easily. |
(245) |
5.3% |
14.3% |
21.2% |
35.1% |
24.1% |
| 8. |
I became more violent when angered. |
(246) |
10.6% |
26.4% |
15.4% |
26.8% |
20.7% |
| 9. |
I began to drink more heavily. |
(244) |
27.0% |
27.5% |
9.0% |
19.3% |
17.2% |
| |
If so, would you
describe yourself as having become an alcoholic? |
(107) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 27.1% |
50.5% |
22.4% |
| 10. |
I began to use, or increased my use of drugs. |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| (234) |
33.8% |
20.5% |
5.1% |
21.4% |
19.2% |
| |
If so, would you
describe yourself as having become addicted? |
(106) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 25.5% |
61.3% |
13.2% |
| |
(N) |
Strongly
Disagree |
|
|
|
Strongly Agree |
| 11. |
Because of my abortion experience,
I underwent a dramatic personality change. |
(240) |
6.7% |
15.4% |
26.7% |
26.7% |
24.6% |
| |
If so, the change was for the better. (1 - worse, 5 - better) |
(155) |
61.3% |
18.1% |
12.9% |
4.5% |
3.2% |
| 12. |
I experienced a radical change in my ideals and
moral beliefs. |
(237) |
8.4% |
17.7% |
29.5% |
21.5% |
22.8% |
Section 4
Answer the following questions by checking the appropriate box or filling in the blank
space as required.
| |
|
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 1. |
Was there a time after your abortion when you
would have considered yourself pro-choice? |
(250) |
46.0% |
36.8% |
17.2% |
| 2. |
Was there a time after your abortion when you
would have encouraged or supported a woman in similar circumstances to consider abortion? |
(252) |
31.7% |
54.0% |
14.3% |
| 3. |
Have you ever regretted having had the
abortion? |
(251) |
94.0% |
3.2% |
2.8% |
| 4. |
Have you ever had a waking or sleeping
visitation from the aborted child? |
(248) |
17.7% |
73.0% |
9.3% |
| |
If so, was the mood of the
visitation |
( 46 ) |
vengeful or |
forgiving? |
23.9% |
74.1% |
| |
|
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 5. |
Did you ever talk to the aborted child prior to
the abortion? |
(249) |
32.1% |
61.8% |
6.0% |
| 6. |
Did you ever talk to the aborted child after
the abortion? |
(248) |
48.8% |
45.6% |
5.6% |
| 7. |
Did your relationship with your sexual partner
come to an end after the abortion? |
(248) |
66.1% |
31.0% |
2.8% |
| |
If so, how soon after
the abortion ? (N = 166) |
within 1 month |
within 6 months |
a year or more |
| |
55.4% |
22.9% |
21.7% |
| |
|
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 8. |
Did you experience greater irregularity of
menstrual periods after your abortion? |
(249) |
33.7% |
55.8% |
10.4% |
| 9. |
Did you frequently experience heavy bleeding
after your abortion? |
(250) |
41.2% |
50.4% |
8.4% |
| 10. |
Did you experience pain in the cervix or
abdomen? |
(249) |
58.2% |
31.3% |
10.4% |
| 11. |
Did you experience an increased sense of pain
during intercourse? |
(247) |
33.2% |
49.0% |
17.8% |
| 12. |
Did you experience a loss of pleasure from
intercourse? |
(248) |
58.5% |
28.2% |
13.3% |
| 13. |
Did you develop an aversion to sexual
intercourse or become sexually unresponsive? |
(247) |
46.6% |
38.5% |
15.0% |
| 14. |
Did you become promiscuous after your abortion? |
(246) |
42.7% |
51.6% |
5.7% |
| 15. |
Did you experience greater fear of becoming
pregnant when waiting for each period to begin? |
(246) |
48.8% |
45.5% |
5.7% |
| 16. |
Did you have your self surgically sterilized in
order to avoid the risk of needing another abortion? |
(250) |
8.8% |
90.4% |
0.8% |
| 17. |
Did you ever experience any false pregnancies
after your abortion? |
(247) |
24.7% |
68.4% |
6.9% |
| 18. |
Did you attempt to atone for your abortion by
conceiving a "replacement pregnancy?" |
(245) |
28.6% |
62.9% |
8.6% |
| |
If so, how long after
your abortion did you become pregnant again? (IN MONTHS) (N=76) |
Months |
| 1-6 |
7-12 |
13-24 |
25-36 |
OVER 36 |
| 15.8% |
28.9% |
15.7% |
11.8% |
27.6% |
| |
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 19. |
Did you ever attempt suicide? |
(248) |
28.2% |
70.2% |
1.6% |
| |
If so, how many times? |
One |
Two |
Three |
Four |
Over Four |
| 46.8% |
30.6% |
16.1% |
0% |
6.5% |
| |
|
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 20. |
Were you ever physically abused as a child? |
(248) |
20.6% |
71.4% |
8.1% |
| 21. |
Were you ever sexually abused as a child? |
(247) |
24.3% |
65.6% |
10.1% |
| 22. |
Did you ever abuse your children before your
abortion? |
(193) |
2.1% |
96.9% |
1.0% |
| 23. |
Did you ever emotionally abuse your children
before your abortion? |
(190) |
4.2% |
92.6% |
3.2% |
| 24. |
After your abortion, did you experience a
strong feeling of relief? |
(248) |
37.9% |
49.6% |
12.5% |
| |
If so, did it last
... (N =95) |
weeks |
months |
or years? |
| 60.0% |
12.6% |
25.3% |
| |
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 25. |
After your abortion, did you
experience any negative reactions or ambivalent feelings? |
(253) |
89.3% |
2.0% |
8.7% |
| |
If so, when did you
experience the first of your negative or ambivalent feelings? (N = 228) |
Immediately |
Within 6 months |
After a year or more |
| 64.5% |
18.9% |
16.7% |
| |
If so, when did you
experience the majority(or worst) of your negative feelings? (N = 222) |
Immediately |
Within 6 months |
After a year or more |
| 21.2% |
18.5% |
60.4% |
| |
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 26. |
Do you feel fully reconciled with
your abortion experience today? |
(251) |
31.9% |
51.0% |
17.1% |
| 27. |
Knowing where your life is today, did your
abortion improve your life? |
(253) |
5.9% |
71.9% |
22.1% |
Section 5:
If you have never experienced any negative or uncertain feelings about your abortion, you
may stop here.
THANK YOU for your valuable participation.
| |
|
(N) |
Mild |
Moderate |
Severe |
Very Severe |
| 1. |
Overall, how severe were the emotional
aftereffects of your abortion? |
(246) |
5.3% |
23.6% |
41.5% |
29.7% |
| |
|
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 2. |
Was there any time during which your reactions were so severe that you were unable to function normally at home,
work, or in personal relationships? |
(244) |
55.3% |
34.8% |
9.8% |
|
If so, how long did
this disability last? |
MONTHS |
1-6 |
7-12 |
13-24 |
25-36 |
>36 |
41.5% |
7.6% |
12.2% |
12.2 |
26.4 |
| |
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 3. |
Would you describe yourself as
self-destructive? |
(245) |
36.7% |
50.6% |
12.7% |
| 4. |
Did you undergo a nervous breakdown at some
time after your abortion? |
(241) |
20.3% |
63.1% |
16.6% |
| 5. |
Were you ever hospitalized for psychological
treatment because of the abortion? |
(244) |
10.2% |
89.8% |
-- |
| 6. |
Was there a period of time during which you
denied the existence of any doubts or negative feelings about your abortion? |
(245) |
62.9% |
24.1% |
13.1% |
|
If so, for how
long? Avg: 63.1 mos. (N = 124) |
MONTHS |
1-6 |
7-12 |
13-24 |
25-36 |
>36 |
24.2% |
9.7% |
8.0% |
8.0 |
50.0% |
| |
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 7. |
Despite your negative feelings, do
you still believe the choice to have an abortion was the right thing to do? |
(247) |
2.8% |
86.6% |
10.5% |
| |
If not, was there a time after recognizing your
negative feelings during which would have still insisted that you had done the right
thing? |
(214) |
19.2% |
61.2% |
19.6% |
| |
If so, for how
long? Avg: 4.6 yrs. (N = 37) |
YEARS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
>5 |
32.4% |
16.2% |
8.1% |
5.4% |
18.9% |
18.9% |
| |
YEARS |
| 8. |
How long did it take for you to
begin to reconcile yourself to your abortion experience? |
<1 |
1-2 |
3-5 |
6-10 |
>10 |
| |
Avg: 7.5 yrs. (N = 184) |
6.5% |
11.4% |
25.6 |
35.3 |
21.2% |
| |
(N) |
Yes |
No |
Unsure |
| 9. |
Do you feel fully reconciled with
your abortion experience today? |
(241) |
31.9% |
48.5% |
20.3% |
| 10. |
Has abortion made your life worse? |
(238) |
60.9% |
16.4% |
22.7% |
| 11. Place a check mark
next to whichever of the following persons you went to for help in coping with your
negative feelings, and check whether or not they were helpful. |
| (N) |
Talked with: |
was Helpful |
Not Helpful |
Uncertain |
| (86) |
psychologist/psychiatrist |
38.5% |
58.1% |
3.5% |
| (63) |
social worker/counselor |
41.3% |
57.7% |
1.6% |
| (92) |
clergy |
68.5% |
31.5% |
0.0% |
| (69) |
parent(s) |
36.2% |
62.3% |
1.4% |
| (145) |
husband/boyfriend(s) |
46.9% |
49.0% |
4.0% |
| (144) |
friends |
60.4% |
38.2% |
1.4% |
| (88) |
post-abortion counseling group |
90.9% |
8.0% |
1.1% |
| (45) |
other : __________ |
80.0% |
17.8% |
2.2% |
| Among the most frequent listed
"other" were religious references to God, Jesus, the bible, and prayer
(39%).Also listed were sister, aunt, and bartender, nurse, and pro-life person. |
Originally published in The Post-Abortion Review, 2(3):4-8,
Fall 1994. Copyright 1994 Elliot Institute.
|
