National study: Abortion does not cause depression or low self-esteem in adolescents

[estesbob]

Point me to them then. I feel that I must remind you that the plural of anecdote is not data.

abortiontv.com/Glitch/AbortionAndDepression.htm

publications.cpa-apc.org/media.php?mid=951

cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/168/10/1253

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18539697?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

springerlink.com/content/w773590gq50677jv/

Defined here as reactions five years or more since abortion. *“Psychological profile of dysphoric women post abortion,” K.N. Franco, M. Tamburrino, N. Campbell, J. Pentz, S. Jurs, J. of the American Medical Women’s Assoc. 44(4):113, July/Aug. 1989. *
In a survey of 81 women approximately 10 years post abortion who were in a patient led support group for women who described themselves as having poorly assimilated their abortion experience, the mean Beck Depression Inventory Score for all women studied was 5.3 (mild depression). For women with one abortion it was 4.7 (none to minimal depression). For women with multiple abortions it was 9.4 (moderate depression). Other risk factors for post abortion dysphoria were pre morbid psychiatric illness, lack of family support, ambivalence and feeling coerced into having a abortion.

*Post-Abortion Trauma, Jeanette Vought, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991). *
A study of 68 religiously oriented, primarily Protestant women who were studied 10-15 years post-abortion, 76% reported depression as one of the emotional effects of abortion.

*“A Survey of Postabortion Reactions,” David C. Reardon, (Springfield, IL: The Elliot Institute for Social Science Research, 1987). *
In a 1987 Survey of Postabortion reactions among 100 women members of Women Exploited by Abortion an average of 11 years since their abortion, 87% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “After my abortion I experienced feelings of depression.” Fifty per cent of these women were 20 years of age or younger at the time of their abortion.

*Psycho-Social Stress Following Abortion, Anne Speckhard, (Kansas City MO: Sheed & Ward, 1987). *
In a study of 30 women who reported chronic and long term stress from their abortion 92% expressed feelings of depression following abortion. Fifty per cent of these women had their abortion in the second trimester (46%) or third trimester (4%) of their pregnancy. The majority (64%) had their abortion 5-10 years previously, 20% were less than 5 years and 16% ranged from 11-25 years post abortion.

“Depression associated with abortion and childbirth: A long-term analysis of the NLSY cohort,” JR Cougle et al, Clinical Method & Health Research NetPrints, April 25, 2001 (Abstract)
This study used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth which contains a number of psychological variables related to pregnancy outcome. Compared to post-childbirth women, women who had abortions were found to have significantly higher depression scores as measured an average of 10 years after their pregnancy outcome. Post-abortion women were also 41% more likely to score in the "high risk " range for clinical depression compared to non-aborting women. A self-assessment questionnaire administered in 1998 also found that aborting women were 73% more likely to complain of “depression, excessive worry, or nervous trouble of any kind” compared to women with other pregnancy outcomes.

“Psychiatric history and mental status,” W.L. Sands in Diagnosing Mental lllness:Evaluation in Psychiatry and Psychology, Eds. Freedman and Kaplan, (New York: Athenum, 1973) 31.
“The significance of abortions may not be revealed until later periods of emotional depression. During depressions occurring in the fifth or sixth decades of the patient’s life, the psychiatrist frequently hears expressions of remorse and guilt concerning abortions that occurred twenty or more years earlier.”

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

abortiontv.com/Glitch/AbortionAndDepression.htm

publications.cpa-apc.org/media.php?mid=951

cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/168/10/1253

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18539697?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

springerlink.com/content/w773590gq50677jv/

Defined here as reactions five years or more since abortion. *“Psychological profile of dysphoric women post abortion,” K.N. Franco, M. Tamburrino, N. Campbell, J. Pentz, S. Jurs, J. of the American Medical Women’s Assoc. 44(4):113, July/Aug. 1989. *
In a survey of 81 women approximately 10 years post abortion who were in a patient led support group for women who described themselves as having poorly assimilated their abortion experience, the mean Beck Depression Inventory Score for all women studied was 5.3 (mild depression). For women with one abortion it was 4.7 (none to minimal depression). For women with multiple abortions it was 9.4 (moderate depression). Other risk factors for post abortion dysphoria were pre morbid psychiatric illness, lack of family support, ambivalence and feeling coerced into having a abortion.

*Post-Abortion Trauma, Jeanette Vought, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991). *
A study of 68 religiously oriented, primarily Protestant women who were studied 10-15 years post-abortion, 76% reported depression as one of the emotional effects of abortion.

*“A Survey of Postabortion Reactions,” David C. Reardon, (Springfield, IL: The Elliot Institute for Social Science Research, 1987). *
In a 1987 Survey of Postabortion reactions among 100 women members of Women Exploited by Abortion an average of 11 years since their abortion, 87% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “After my abortion I experienced feelings of depression.” Fifty per cent of these women were 20 years of age or younger at the time of their abortion.

*Psycho-Social Stress Following Abortion, Anne Speckhard, (Kansas City MO: Sheed & Ward, 1987). *
In a study of 30 women who reported chronic and long term stress from their abortion 92% expressed feelings of depression following abortion. Fifty per cent of these women had their abortion in the second trimester (46%) or third trimester (4%) of their pregnancy. The majority (64%) had their abortion 5-10 years previously, 20% were less than 5 years and 16% ranged from 11-25 years post abortion.

“Depression associated with abortion and childbirth: A long-term analysis of the NLSY cohort,” JR Cougle et al, Clinical Method & Health Research NetPrints, April 25, 2001 (Abstract)
This study used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth which contains a number of psychological variables related to pregnancy outcome. Compared to post-childbirth women, women who had abortions were found to have significantly higher depression scores as measured an average of 10 years after their pregnancy outcome. Post-abortion women were also 41% more likely to score in the "high risk " range for clinical depression compared to non-aborting women. A self-assessment questionnaire administered in 1998 also found that aborting women were 73% more likely to complain of “depression, excessive worry, or nervous trouble of any kind” compared to women with other pregnancy outcomes.

“Psychiatric history and mental status,” W.L. Sands in Diagnosing Mental lllness:Evaluation in Psychiatry and Psychology, Eds. Freedman and Kaplan, (New York: Athenum, 1973) 31.
“The significance of abortions may not be revealed until later periods of emotional depression. During depressions occurring in the fifth or sixth decades of the patient’s life, the psychiatrist frequently hears expressions of remorse and guilt concerning abortions that occurred twenty or more years earlier.”

The APA summary discussed the findings of the studies by Franco et al, Reardon, Speckhard, and Cougle et al.

Zondervan Publishing House is not a peer reviewed journal and the last study does not provide any data.

 

[estesbob]

The APA summary discussed the findings of the studies by Franco et al, Reardon, Speckhard, and Cougle et al.

Zondervan Publishing House is not a peer reviewed journal and the last study does not provide any data.

I provided about 15 studies that said abortion caused depression or mental problems. You claim a very small sample study that you came out in the last few months trumps them all. But then I predicted this would your response several posts back You made my point for me. Thank you.

 

[rlg94086]

I provided about 15 studies that said abortion caused depression or mental problems. You claim a very small sample study that you came out in the last few months trumps them all. But then I predicted this would your response several posts back You made my point for me. Thank you.

I’ve already found that TheTrueCentrist never gives an inch or admits he may be wrong.

…“centrist”

 

[ChadS]

The APA summary discussed the findings of the studies by Franco et al, Reardon, Speckhard, and Cougle et al.

Zondervan Publishing House is not a peer reviewed journal and the last study does not provide any data.

Calling a summary a summary doesn’t mean that the findings or the methodology of the studies are somehow flawed. It seems you’ve just said something to say something. The links provided by estesbob seem to reputable and mainstream studies and really until proven otherwise their claims should be examined seriously and taken as valid.

ChadS

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Haha! Science: only valid when it supports our preconceived notions!

Such as the fact that abortion has no negative consequences?

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

I provided about 15 studies that said abortion caused depression or mental problems. You claim a very small sample study that you came out in the last few months trumps them all. But then I predicted this would your response several posts back You made my point for me. Thank you.

Calling a summary a summary doesn’t mean that the findings or the methodology of the studies are somehow flawed. It seems you’ve just said something to say something. The links provided by estesbob seem to reputable and mainstream studies and really until proven otherwise their claims should be examined seriously and taken as valid.
ChadS

The APA summary points out the methodological failings of the studies I listed. I assumed that the links were to the same studies quoted. I believe all the linked studies are also discussed.

For example:
“(c) In some studies, additional sources of non-equivalence between abortion and comparison groups were created by selecting a first “target” pregnancy occurring in a specified time period of data collection (e.g., the latter 6 months of 1989). This was to create abortion and delivery comparison groups without attention to reproductive history differences between these groups, when reproductive history is a factor affecting retention in the population sampled (e.g., Cougle, Reardon, & Coleman, 2003; Reardon & Coleman, 2006; Reardon & Cougle, 2002a). (d) Serious violation of sampling principles also occurs when differential exclusion is used in constructing comparison groups such that one group is advantaged relative to the other (e.g., Coleman et al.,2002; Cougle, et al., 2005).”

 

[estesbob]

The APA summary points out the methodological failings of the studies I listed. I assumed that the links were to the same studies quoted. I believe all the linked studies are also discussed.

For example:
“(c) In some studies, additional sources of non-equivalence between abortion and comparison groups were created by selecting a first “target” pregnancy occurring in a specified time period of data collection (e.g., the latter 6 months of 1989). This was to create abortion and delivery comparison groups without attention to reproductive history differences between these groups, when reproductive history is a factor affecting retention in the population sampled (e.g., Cougle, Reardon, & Coleman, 2003; Reardon & Coleman, 2006; Reardon & Cougle, 2002a). (d) Serious violation of sampling principles also occurs when differential exclusion is used in constructing comparison groups such that one group is advantaged relative to the other (e.g., Coleman et al.,2002; Cougle, et al., 2005).”

The APA study did no such thing. As has been pointed out by many the study that was the focus of this thread had serious problems with its methodology itself. There is overwhelming evidence that abortion can cause mental health problems and clinical depression. You want to hang your hat on one single study using a very small sample but with which you agree because it affirms your political beliefs. We cannot sacrifice these women on the altar of political correctness.

 

[estesbob]

I’ve already found that TheTrueCentrist never gives an inch or admits he may be wrong.

…“centrist”

There are many who are so wedded to their political beliefs that they cannot recognize the truth when it hits them in the face. I suspect if they had been confronted by Jesus as St. Thomas was they would’ve claimed that his wounds were nothing more than clever makeup.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

There are many who are so wedded to their political beliefs that they cannot recognize the truth when it hits them in the face. I suspect if they had been confronted by Jesus as St. Thomas was they would’ve claimed that his wounds were nothing more than clever makeup.

The question “does abortion cause depression” is not a political question but a scientific one.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

The APA study did no such thing. As has been pointed out by many the study that was the focus of this thread had serious problems with its methodology itself. There is overwhelming evidence that abortion can cause mental health problems and clinical depression. You want to hang your hat on one single study using a very small sample but with which you agree because it affirms your political beliefs. We cannot sacrifice these women on the altar of political correctness.

The APA paper does discuss the flaws of your studies; I provided a direct quote from its text demonstrating the flaws in some of your studies.

The only claim brought against the original study was “bias” and “small sample size.” One or two people called for supporting evidence due to the small sample size. The APA paper shows that the originally posted paper was contributing additional data to the current consensus that abortion does not cause depression.

 

[estesbob]

The APA paper does discuss the flaws of your studies; I provided a direct quote from its text demonstrating the flaws in some of your studies.

The only claim brought against the original study was “bias” and “small sample size.” One or two people called for supporting evidence due to the small sample size. The APA paper shows that the originally posted paper was contributing additional data to the current consensus that abortion does not cause depression.

Because the APA says it’s so doesn’t make it so. I presented a whole slew of peer-reviewed studies and you dismiss them with a wave of your hand because you found one minor study the disputes them. But then way back when you asked for studies different from the one you have been waving about like the sort of Excalibur I noted it didn’t matter how many studies we posted -you would dismiss them if they didn’t fit your political views .

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

Because the APA says it’s so doesn’t make it so. I presented a whole slew of peer-reviewed studies and you dismiss them with a wave of your hand because you found one minor study the disputes them. But then way back when you asked for studies different from the one you have been waving about like the sort of Excalibur I noted it didn’t matter how many studies we posted -you would dismiss them if they didn’t fit your political views .

Now you’re grasping at straws. The “minor study” is the work of several experts in the field as well as a statement by the APA (the world’s largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psychological_Association

The reason I use it as an “Excalibur” is because it makes very sober and detailed criticisms about the studies you’ve posted. You are free to defend the studies you cite, but until you’ve answered the criticisms by the APA their findings hold little water.

 

[estesbob]

Now you’re grasping at straws. The “minor study” is the work of several experts in the field as well as a statement by the APA (the world’s largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psychological_Association

The reason I use it as an “Excalibur” is because it makes very sober and detailed criticisms about the studies you’ve posted. You are free to defend the studies you cite, but until you’ve answered the criticisms by the APA their findings hold little water.

A study based on the self respondents of exactly 289 individuals can hardly be called conclusive.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

A study based on the self respondents of exactly 289 individuals can hardly be called conclusive.

At least one of the studies you claimed proved depression is associated with abortion had fewer than 100 participants.

From the article:
"Warren noted that a 2008 report by the American Psychological Association found no evidence that an induced abortion causes mental health problems in adult women. Because of a scarcity of evidence, no conclusions were drawn at that time about adolescents. Warren said the results of their study with teen girls were consistent with the results of studies with adult women reviewed in the APA report. "

“Harvey said their study had several strengths. For one thing, the data were from a national sample and are representative of adolescents who were in grades 7 through 12. Also, the study used standard measures of depression and self-esteem. Finally, the longitudinal data examined psychological symptoms before, during, and years after pregnancy”

 

[estesbob]

At least one of the studies you claimed proved depression is associated with abortion had fewer than 100 participants.

From the article:
"Warren noted that a 2008 report by the American Psychological Association found no evidence that an induced abortion causes mental health problems in adult women. Because of a scarcity of evidence, no conclusions were drawn at that time about adolescents. Warren said the results of their study with teen girls were consistent with the results of studies with adult women reviewed in the APA report. "

“Harvey said their study had several strengths. For one thing, the data were from a national sample and are representative of adolescents who were in grades 7 through 12. Also, the study used standard measures of depression and self-esteem. Finally, the longitudinal data examined psychological symptoms before, during, and years after pregnancy”

I posted over a dozen satudies-you posted -one that talked to exact 289 of over 50 million women who had abortions since 1972.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Haha! Science: only valid when it supports our preconceived notions!

Exactly.

Just like all the national studies that have come before this one throughout the years that have supposedly definitively proved that:

Native Americans are not capable of higher thought,
African americans have the same intelligence of animals due to the shape of the cranium,
Women are incapable of logic.

This is just another “national study” that will go down as yet another blow to human rights and dignity - done in the name of lucrative business, and preservation of power.

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

Exactly.

Just like all the national studies that have come before this one throughout the years that have supposedly definitively proved that:

Native Americans are not capable of higher thought,
African americans have the same intelligence of animals due to the shape of the cranium,
Women are incapable of logic.

This is just another “national study” that will go down as yet another blow to human rights and dignity - done in the name of lucrative business, and preservation of power.

That’s some good science denial right there, but it offers nothing constructive. I could just as easily dismiss religious opposition to abortion: religion was used to justify slavery, therefore the religious objection to abortion stems from a desire to make the poor slaves to religious institutions (monetarily and emotionally.) “That doesn’t make sense” you might say. Quite frankly it makes about as much sense as dismissing this issue solely because “big bad science” has determined the conclusion.

 

[estesbob]

That’s some good science denial right there, but it offers nothing constructive. I could just as easily dismiss religious opposition to abortion: religion was used to justify slavery, therefore the religious objection to abortion stems from a desire to make the poor slaves to religious institutions (monetarily and emotionally.) “That doesn’t make sense” you might say. Quite frankly it makes about as much sense as dismissing this issue solely because “big bad science” has determined the conclusion.

Is making profound conclusions about abortion based on interviews with 289 of the over 50 million women who have had abortions since 1972 sound science? That means these “scientists” interviewed exactly .000006% of the women who have a had abortions in this country since 1972. And you trumpet this study has some kind of scientific fact?

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

That’s some good science denial right there, but it offers nothing constructive. I could just as easily dismiss religious opposition to abortion: religion was used to justify slavery, therefore the religious objection to abortion stems from a desire to make the poor slaves to religious institutions (monetarily and emotionally.) “That doesn’t make sense” you might say. Quite frankly it makes about as much sense as dismissing this issue solely because “big bad science” has determined the conclusion.

I was merely pointing out that just because “A National Study says so” doesn’t mean it’s always right, as clearly evidenced by their past bluders that were cited as excuses for crimes against humanity.

But that was a nice wide and presumptive brush you painted me with there.