Adolescents and adjustment to abortion: are minors at greater risk?

The authors tested the Supreme Court's assumption that minors are particularly susceptible to psychological distress following abortion. The responses of 38 minors (age < 18 years) were compared with those of 402 adults, 1 month and 2 years after an elective, 1st-trimester abortion. Minors were relatively less satisfied with their abortion decision and felt less benefit from the abortion than did adults 1 month postabortion, but they did not differ from adults in adjustment 2 years postabortion. Minors were not more depressed than adults at either time period, and their decision satisfaction and perceived benefit at both time periods did not suggest a population at risk. Age group differences in adjustment 1 month postabortion were explained by minors' reduced self-efficacy appraisals for coping, greater use of avoidant coping strategies, and greater perceived parental conflict. These findings challenge the Court's assumption that minors are particularly vulnerable to psychological harm following abortion.