Existential experiences and needs related to induced abortion in a group of Swedish women: a quantitative investigation

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of existential experiences and needs among women who have requested an induced abortion. Methods: A questionnaire was used to collect information from 499 women who had requested an induced abortion. A principle component analysis resulted in three components of existential experiences and needs: existential thoughts, existential practices, and humanisation of the foetus. These components were analysed in relation to background data and other data from the questionnaire. Results: Existential experiences and needs were common. For 61% of women existential thoughts about life and death, meaning and morality were related to the abortion experience. Almost 50% of women reported a need for special acts in relation to the abortion; 67% of women thought of the pregnancy in terms of a child. A higher presence of existential components correlated to difficulty in making the abortion decision and poor psychological wellbeing after the abortion. Conclusion: Women’s experiences of abortion can include existential thoughts about life, death, meaning and morality, feelings of attachment to the foetus, and the need for symbolic expression. This presents a challenge for abortion personnel, as the situation involves complex aspects over and above medical procedures and routines.

Keywords::

• Abortion
• psychological wellbeing
• women’s health
• existential question
• foetus

Declaration of Interest: The study is a part of a center of excellence program at Uppsala University, Sweden: Impact of Religion: Challenges for Society, Law and Democracy. The project was supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), the European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health, Uppsala-Örebro Regional Research Council and the Family Planning Fund at Uppsala University Hospital.

Current knowledge on this subject

• A vast number of studies have shown that psychological distress after abortion is rare, in Sweden as well as in other countries.

• A number of studies have shown that the experience of abortion often includes strong emotions, sometimes related to existential questions.

• A qualitative study has shown that women’s needs of existential support in relation to abortion are varied: some women are satisfied with a strictly medical care, but others express a need of existential support.

What this study adds

• This study highlights that although abortion cannot be understood as psychologically detrimental, women’s experiences of abortion can be closely related to existential experiences and needs. In the study sample, 61% of women had existential thoughts, and 48% expressed a need of existential practices related to the abortion.

• The women who reported more existential thoughts and practices also reported poorer psychological wellbeing post abortion, and described the abortion decision as more difficult to make.

• When a woman faces an unwanted pregnancy, her ability to adjust to the situation depends on her coping strategies or psychosocial history. It might also depend on her ability and options for interpreting and dealing with the situation in the light of her worldview.