Oslo researchers confirm link between abortion and depression

Oslo, Norway, Aug 7, 2008 / 14:51 pm

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Oslo, Blinderen in Norway confirmed that women who have abortions in their 20s have a greater chance of experiencing depression.

The Scandinavian Journal of Health published an article by Willie Pedersen from the university’s Department of Sociology and Human Geography who was interested in the “likely social or mental health-related implications of undergoing induced abortion.”  Specifically, “whether induced abortion was a risk factor for subsequent depression.”

The article also addressed weaknesses in previous studies which focused on abortion and depression.  Due to a poor design, past studies had not controlled confounding factors – those “likely to increase the risk of both abortion and depression.”

The researchers used a representative sample of 768 women between the ages of 15 and 27.  To avoid the inaccuracies of previous studies, participants were questioned about “depression, induced abortion and childbirth, as well as sociodemographic variables, family relationships and a number of individual characteristics, such as schooling and occupational history and conduct problems.”

While the study did not show a link in between teenage abortion and depression, the researchers had evidence to conclude that “Young adult women who undergo induced abortion may be at increased risk for subsequent depression."