Psychosocial adjustment after induced abortion and its explanatory factors among adolescent and adult women

AbstractObjective: To compare the depressive symptoms and quality of life (QoL) among adolescents (<20 years) and adult women who have had an abortion and to explore individual, social, relational and decision-making explanatory factors for (mal)adjustment in each group.Background: International findings are not consistent regarding the presence of negative psychosocial outcomes after abortion or about the explanatory factors for occurrence among adolescents and adult women.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 177 adolescents (65.1%) and 95 adult women (34.9%) who underwent abortion were recruited. Data on individual, social, relational and decision-making characteristics, depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and QoL (EUROHIS-QOL-8) were collected through self-report questionnaires at 16 healthcare services that provide abortion.Results: Although adolescents are not at greater risk of maladjustment than adult women, abortion may be an emotionally significant event for both age gro...