Unwanted abortion disclosure and social support in the abortion decision and mental health symptoms: A cross-sectional survey

• Published in: Contraception (Stoneham) Vol. 119; p. 109905
• Main Authors: Biggs, M. Antonia, Driver, Matthew, Kaller, Shelly, Ralph, Lauren J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Abortion; Abortion, Induced - psychology; Anxiety; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Disclosure; Female; Humans; Mental Health; Pregnancy; Social Support; Stress; Depression; Anxiety; Abortion; Stress; Mental health; Social support
• ISSN: 0010-7824; 1879-0518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.10.007

To assess the extent of unwanted abortion disclosure and levels of social support in the abortion decision and their association with depression, anxiety, and stress. From January to June 2019, we surveyed people presenting for abortion at four clinics in California, New Mexico, and Illinois regarding their experiences accessing abortion. We used multivariable regression to examine associations between unwanted abortion disclosure and social support in the abortion decision, and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Among 1092 people approached, 784 (72% response rate) eligible individuals initiated the survey, and 746 responded to the unwanted abortion disclosure item and were included in analyses. Over one-quarter (27%) told someone they would have preferred not to tell about their decision, mostly due to obstacles getting to the appointment—time to appointment (46%), travel distance (33%), and costs (32%). Three-quarters (74%, n=546) had at least one person in their life who supported the abortion decision “very much”; 20% had someone who supported the decision “not at all.” In adjusted analyses, unwanted abortion disclosure was associated with more symptoms of depression (B = 0.62, 95% confidence interval: 0.28, 0.95), anxiety (B = 1.79; 95% CI: 0.76, 2.82) and stress (B = 1.80, 95% CI: 0.64, 1.72). People also had more symptoms of depression and stress when one or more person (B = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.27, 1.02 and B = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.15, 1.35, respectively) or the man involved in the pregnancy (B = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.16, 1.18 and B = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.13, 1.78, respectively) supported their decision “not at all” (vs “very much” support). Being forced to disclose the abortion decision due to logistical and cost constraints may be harmful to people's mental health. Logistical burdens such as travel, time to access care, and costs needed to access abortion may force people seeking abortion to involve others who are unsupportive in the abortion decision having negative implications for their mental health.