Women's Responses to Abortion: Implications for Post-Abortion Support Groups

A review of the literature on the psychosocial consequences of abortion reveals that abortion can be a positive experience for the majority of women, but it can be emotionally stressful for a smaller group. The sources of stress are attributed to ambivalence, lack of social support, and inadequate coping skills. A model for post-abortion support groups is proposed which would assist women in clarifying feelings, reduce alienation and isolation, facilitate appropriate mourning, increase self-esteem, and bring closure to the abortion experience. Recent experience with such a group is described.