Argument: Abortion has positive impact on emotions of most women

Supporting studies

• Zabin LS, Hirsch MB, Emerson MR. “When urban adolescents choose abortion: effects on education, psychological status and subsequent pregnancy”. Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. 1989 – “This study of teenagers who sought pregnancy tests found that, counting from the beginning of pregnancy until two years later, the level of stress and anxiety of those who had an abortion did not differ from that of those who had not been pregnant or who had carried their pregnancy to term.”

• Russo, N. F., & Zierk, K.L. (1992). Abortion, childbearing, and women. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 23(4), 269-280. This study suggested a link between elective abortion and later reports of positive self-esteem; it also noted that adverse emotional reactions to the procedure are most strongly influenced by pre-existing psychological conditions and other negative factors.

• Schmiege, S. & Russo, N.F. (2005). Depression and unwanted first pregnancy: longitudinal cohort study Electronic version. British Medical Journal, 331 (7528), 1303. Retrieved 2006-01-11 – Found that abortion, as compared to completion, of an undesired first pregnancy was not found to directly pose the risk of significant depression.

Articles arguing against PAS

• “The Myth of PAS” by Cynthia L. Cooper

Counter-argument

• Argument: Abortion often leads to regret, depression, mental illness