|
|
 |
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 calloused 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 recognizingyour 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.
|
|
