A comparison of the psychological consequences and social support of spontaneous and induced abortion

Abortion, whether spontaneous or induced, is a challenging experience in a woman's life. This study aimed to compare the psychological consequences and perceived social support in two groups of women with abortion experiences in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran.

To enhance the representativeness of the target population, convenience sampling was conducted from both formal centers such as healthcare facilities and informal settings such as women's parks, mosques, and residential neighborhoods in two cities of Bonab and Maragheh. Data were collected using the validated DASS-21 and MSPSS questionnaires. The post-abortion interval ranged from 3 months to 5 years. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for demographic confounders.

Of the 611 participating women, 321 (52.5%) had experienced a spontaneous abortion and 290 (47.5%) had undergone an induced abortion. Women in the induced abortion group were significantly more likely to be aged 30-39 years and reported significantly lower income levels. A significantly higher proportion of women who were 49 to 60 months post-abortion were in the induced abortion group. Stress scores were significantly higher among women with induced abortions. While perceived social support was generally low in both groups, the patterns differed: support from friends was significantly greater in the induced abortion group, whereas support from significant others was significantly higher in the spontaneous abortion group.

Women with history of induced abortions reported higher stress levels than those with spontaneous abortions. Both groups faced insufficient social support and family support during this experience. Implementing family education programs, strengthening various support systems, time-sensitive psychological screening and interventions, is recommended to mitigate adverse post-abortion consequences.