Citation

Allanson S. Clin. Psychol. 2007; 11(2): 50-60.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Australian Psychological Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1080/13284200701675767

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Decision ambivalence is a key concept in abortion literature, but has been poorly operationalised. This study explored the concept of decision ambivalence via an Abortion Decision Balance Sheet (ADBS) articulating reasons both for and against terminating an unintended pregnancy. Ninety-six women undergoing an early abortion for psychosocial reasons participated in a prospective, longitudinal study with repeated measures (Impact of Event Scale; Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) taken at initial consultation (T1) and 3 months postoperatively (T2). Participants responded to the ADBS at T1. Confronting the problem pregnancy and abortion decision was a high stress event. Women experienced significant improvement 3 months after abortion. Findings did not support balance sheet assumptions of ambivalence, or maternal attachment – grief models, but instead recommended models of decision complexity and cognitive overload. Up to 40% of variability in women's emotional wellbeing at T1, and up to 19% of variability at T2, was predicted by fewer than five ADBS items. These items gave insight into the importance of a woman's concern about her current mothering capacity; abortion role models; and stability of the relationship with the partner in the pregnancy.