Postabortion dysphoria and religion

This study explores psychosocial factors, especially religion, in women identified as dysphoric 1 to 15 years after abortion. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and a demographic questionnaire were mailed to patient-led support groups for women who had poorly assimilated a previous abortion experience. Of the 150 surveys mailed, 71 (47%) were returned. Thirty-three women (46%) stated they had changed to a Fundamentalist or Evangelical church. On the MCMI, members of these conservative denominations scored significantly lower on the subscales for passive-aggressive behavior, ethanol abuse, and avoidance. Religion was strongly perceived by the women as playing a healing role. These findings suggest that conservative personal values may be more critical in understanding attitudes toward abortion than other demographic characteristics. Previous follow-up studies that reported no change in postabortion religiosity may have been too short to detect changes in religion. Implications for treatment of postabortion dysphoria include sensitivity to patients' religious beliefs, with support for the healing aspects of their religion.