Is abortion psychologically safe for would-be mothers and fathers?
Does having an abortion put men and women at risk of emotional suffering?
A nationwide telephone survey conducted in February by the Elliot Institute reveals a full 85 percent of American adults believe negative emotional problems are common after an abortion. Even 60 percent of those who identified themselves as very pro-choice said they think emotional pain is common.
While the American Psychological Association claims abortion is psychologically safe, 84 percent of 626 respondents who disagree believe negative emotional reactions are moderate to very severe.
As WND reported earlier, Dr. Brenda Major, chair of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion, said studies show terminating a pregnancy does not negatively impact women any more than carrying the baby to term.
"The best scientific evidence published indicates that among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy, the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single elective first-trimester abortion or deliver that pregnancy," she said.
Rather than attributing emotional grief to the abortion itself, the APA suggested psychological trauma may coincide with poverty, exposure to violence, history of emotional problems, drug and alcohol abuse and previous unwanted births.
However, of 47 female respondents who reported having an abortion, 76.6 percent reported a negative emotional reaction following the procedure. Similarly, 60 percent of 25 male respondents involved in an abortion also experienced emotional consequences.
Most men and women said they believe abortion doctors should screen patients to ensure they are not being pressured into the procedure and to identify risk factors of emotional problems after an abortion.
Psychologist Dr. Vincent Rue, a psychotherapist for more than 30 years and former faculty member at California State University at Los Angeles and San Diego International University, said regardless of the APA's stance, abortion has devastated the emotional health of men and women.
"The APA has missed the boat and has misguided the American public," Rue said. "It is out of touch with reality and the pain and suffering of these very real people."