Describe Effect of Abortion on the Woman's Mental Health

Effect of abortion on the woman’s mental health

Research Pre-Proposal
First and Last Name
Capella University
Effect of abortion on the woman’s mental health
The following paper is a pre-proposal for a research project to be carried out. The proposed research study focuses on how abortion affects the mental health of the woman who has undergone the abortion. This research pre-proposal covers the research problem, review of existing literature on the topic, and research design. Techniques for data collection and analysis are also described. In addition, ethical and cultural relevant considerations are discussed.
Research Problem
Significance of the problem
A lot of women and even men are now regretting their decision to encourage an abortion or get an abortion, and a lot of people seek assistance and support to cope with grief. Some women suffer psychological stress following an abortion. While not all abortions result in obvious distress to every woman, there are nonetheless many women who really struggle later on (Herd et al., 2016). The proposed research study is significant as it will highlight how undergoing an abortion harms the mental health of women. It will show how abortion is associated with poor mental health. Researchers have reported that nearly 50% of post-abortive individuals might require antidepressant medications at some point during their lives, which is often related back to problems after undergoing an abortion (Fergusson, Horwood & Ridder, 2011).
To cope following an abortion, a lot of women feel relieved following the procurement of abortion. Some individuals have a feeling of sadness but with time they deal with it in a manner that is acceptable to them (Klick, 2011). Some of the symptoms of stress and mental health problems after an abortion are as follows: tearfulness; the woman feels distant from her existing children; sleeping problems; the woman feels the need to replace the pregnancy; the woman feels difficulty to be close to pregnant women or infants; flashbacks; she has depressed feelings; and she is unable to maintain to normal routine. In addition, the woman experiences emotions like grief, guilt, anger and sense of loss; suffers panic attacks and anxiety; as well as disturbing nightmares and/or dreams (Bellieni & Buonocore, 2013). In cases that are severe, the individual could become self-harming, suicidal, become dependent on alcohol and drugs, or indulge in risk-taking behaviours (Russo, 2014). The proposed research study is also significant as it will reveal the comparative risk of mental health problems linked to undergoing an abortion in comparison with alternatives to abortion.
Benefits of the research project
The primary group of people who would benefit from the proposed research is women who have had an abortion and are experiencing mental health problems as a result of the abortion procedure. The research project is of benefit as it will bring to light the need to develop relevant counselling and therapeutic programmes aimed at enabling women who have undergone an abortion to work toward recovery from troubled abortion procedures. The findings of the research would help inform the development of counselling that is open to individuals ...