Consideration of abortion in pregnancy: demographic characteristics, mental health, and protective factors

This study examined demographic characteristics, available resources, and mental health outcomes of women who did and did not consider abortion in pregnancy. Using data collected between 1998 and 2000 from 2,937 mothers recruited for the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study, this study examined whether women who did and did not consider abortion differed in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and resources at the birth of their children and mental health outcomes when their children were one year old. This study further examined protective factors associated with low parenting stress at one year postpartum, despite initial abortion consideration. Compared to women who did not consider abortion, women who did consider abortion tended to be younger, have less education and lower income, and report higher levels of substance use, higher perceived support, and lower received support. A subset of women who had higher education, more income, and lower substance use reported lower parenting stress at year one despite abortion consideration in pregnancy. Promotion of education and employment assistance may be particularly important among women experiencing unplanned pregnancies as these services may contribute to lower parenting stress and improved child outcomes.