Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 93106-0001 USA.
Am Psychol. 2009 Dec;64(9):863-90. doi: 10.1037/a0017497.
The authors evaluated empirical research addressing the relationship between induced abortion and women's mental health. Two issues were addressed: (a) the relative risks associated with abortion compared with the risks associated with its alternatives and (b) sources of variability in women's responses following abortion. This article reflects and updates the report of the American Psychological Association Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion (2008). Major methodological problems pervaded most of the research reviewed. The most rigorous studies indicated that within the United States, the relative risk of mental health problems among adult women who have a single, legal, first-trimester abortion of an unwanted pregnancy is no greater than the risk among women who deliver an unwanted pregnancy. Evidence did not support the claim that observed associations between abortion and mental health problems are caused by abortion per se as opposed to other preexisting and co-occurring risk factors. Most adult women who terminate a pregnancy do not experience mental health problems. Some women do, however. It is important that women's varied experiences of abortion be recognized, validated, and understood.
作者评估了关于人工流产与妇女心理健康之间关系的实证研究。两个问题得到了解决：（a）与流产相关的相对风险与替代方案相关的风险相比；（b）流产后妇女反应变化的来源。本文反映并更新了美国心理协会关于心理健康和人工流产的特别工作组的报告（2008 年）。大多数被审查的研究都存在严重的方法学问题。最严格的研究表明，在美国，对于经历一次合法的、早期、意外怀孕的单身女性，与继续怀孕相比，其心理健康问题的相对风险并不更高。没有证据支持这样的说法，即观察到的流产与心理健康问题之间的关联是由流产本身引起的，而不是其他先前存在的和共同存在的风险因素引起的。大多数终止妊娠的成年女性不会经历心理健康问题。然而，有些女性会。重要的是要认识、验证和理解妇女在流产方面的各种经历。
