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Abortion Linked to Higher Rates of Child Abuse, Study Finds
LifeSiteNews ^ | 3/13/07 | LifeSiteNews

Posted on 03/13/2007 4:00:35 PM PDT by wagglebee

SPRINGFIELD, IL, March 13, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A history of abortion is associated with more frequent acts of physical aggression toward subsequent children, according to a new study published in the Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology.

The findings were drawn from an analysis of data on 237 low-income women in Baltimore who had physically mistreated or neglected at least one of their children or allowed someone else to do so. Researchers controlled for a history of miscarriage or stillbirth, as well as for family history, aggression by the woman's partner and other key factors. While all the women in the study had some connection with child maltreatment or neglect, the authors found that those who reported a history of abortion reported significantly more frequent acts of physical violence, such as slapping, hitting or beating, directed at their children.

Priscilla Coleman, a professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University and lead author of the study, suggested that the link between abortion and child abuse may be influenced by a number of key factors, including unresolved grief, having felt pressured into an unwanted abortion, and disruption in maternal bonding with subsequently born children.

Unresolved grief issues, Coleman noted, "may negatively impact parental responsiveness to child needs, trigger anger, which is a common component of grief, and/or increase parental anxiety regarding child well-being." Some research indicates that grief may be more difficult to resolve if women undergo an unwanted abortion due to pressure from others. In one study, cited by Coleman, 64 percent of American women with a history of abortion reported feeling pressured to abort by others.

Dr. David Reardon, director of the Elliot Institute and a leading researcher who has been involved in more than a dozen studies on the impact of abortion on women, said that this latest study confirms the general findings of previous studies linking abortion with a higher risk of abuse or neglect.

"Previous research has also shown that abortion is linked with a subsequent increased risk of alcoholism, drug use, anxiety, rage, anger and psychiatric hospitalization," Reardon said. "Any of these factors, individually or in combination, can significantly increase the personal and family stresses that can lead to maltreatment or neglect."

A previous study by Coleman found that a maternal history of abortion was linked to less supportive home environments for subsequently born children and that subsequent children exhibited more behavioral problems than the children of women without a history of abortion.

A New Zealand study that tracked young women from birth to 25 years of age found that young women who had abortions were significantly more likely to experience subsequent depression, suicidal behavior and substance abuse, even after the researchers controlled for previous mental health problems.

"Taken all together, these studies show that the mental health effects of abortion don't stop with women," Reardon said. "They will impact their families, too."

Coleman's team suggested that professionals should be aware of the links between abortion and maternal mental health problems and "sensitively inquire about any history of abortion and related, unresolved negative emotions when working with women engaged in or at risk for aberrant parenting."

Finally, the authors concluded that while additional research is always needed, there can no longer be any doubt that abortion significantly impacts the health of women and their families.

"For years, abortion was construed to be a benign medical procedure carrying little if any potential for lasting adverse effects," they wrote. "However ... the last several years have brought greater understanding that abortion for many women is an issue with profound physical, psychological, spiritual and lifestyle dimensions that are intimately tied to many aspects of their lives."
 
Sources:

PK Coleman, VM Rue, CT Coyle, CD Maxey, "Induced Abortion and Child-Directed Aggression Among Mothers of Maltreated Children," Internet Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatology, 6(2), 2007. http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ij...

VM Rue et. al., "Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women," Medical Science Monitor, 10(10): SR5-16 (2004).

PK Coleman et. al., "The Quality of the Caregiving Environment and Child Developmental Outcomes Associated with Maternal History of Abortion Using the NLSY Data," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43(6): 743-57 (2002).

DM Fergusson et. al., "Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health," Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(1): 16-24 (2006).

Additional studies linking abortion to child abuse:

PG Ney, T Fung, AR Wickett, "Relationship Between Induced Abortion and Child Abuse and Neglect: Four Studies," Pre- and Perinatal Psychology Journal, 8(1):43-64 (1993).

M Benedict, R White, P Cornely, "Maternal Perinatal Risk Factors and Child Abuse," Child Abuse and Neglect, 9: 217-224 (1985).

E. Lewis, "Two Hidden Predisposing Factors in Child Abuse," Child Abuse and Neglect, 3: 327-330 (1979).

P. Ney, "Relationship Between Abortion and Child Abuse," Canadian J. Psychiatry, 24:610-620 (1979).



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; childabuse; moralabsolutes; prolife
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A New Zealand study that tracked young women from birth to 25 years of age found that young women who had abortions were significantly more likely to experience subsequent depression, suicidal behavior and substance abuse, even after the researchers controlled for previous mental health problems.

"Taken all together, these studies show that the mental health effects of abortion don't stop with women," Reardon said. "They will impact their families, too."

In other words, a woman's "choice" to commit infanticide has negative consequences for everyone around her.

1 posted on 03/13/2007 4:00:41 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; Mr. Silverback; narses; 8mmMauser

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2 posted on 03/13/2007 4:01:26 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

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3 posted on 03/13/2007 4:01:58 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

Subconsciously or consciously they take out their wrath on kids because of their own self hatred.


4 posted on 03/13/2007 4:03:20 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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To: wagglebee
Isn't abortion the ultimate in "child abuse"? I mean, can it get any worse than killing the child. What the article should have said is that child abuse doesn't stop after abortion but I guess that would be too politically incorrect.
5 posted on 03/13/2007 4:06:15 PM PDT by Shannon
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To: wagglebee
So, if a woman willing submits to having a doctor kill her unborn child by ripping it limb from limb or somne equally violent form of death, that same woman is more apt to abuse children she later actually delivers?

...well, duh!

Lots of rocket science involved in the deductive reasoning to figure that out. [/sacasm]

6 posted on 03/13/2007 4:06:54 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: wagglebee
So, if a woman willing submits to having a doctor kill her unborn child by ripping it limb from limb or somne equally violent form of death, that same woman is more apt to abuse children she later actually delivers?

...well, duh!

Lots of rocket science involved in the deductive reasoning to figure that out. [/sarcasm]

7 posted on 03/13/2007 4:07:03 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: wagglebee

ABORTION IS THE PINNACLE OF CHILD ABUSE.

Having done that, every other form of abuse seems minor.


8 posted on 03/13/2007 4:07:55 PM PDT by ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY ( ISLAMA DELENDA EST!)
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To: Shannon

That's what I was thinking.


9 posted on 03/13/2007 4:09:12 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: wagglebee

This study is mind boggling. This is further proof that the psychological effects of abortion have not been examined thoroughly enough. This should be required reading for prospective mothers who think they may want to choose to abort.


10 posted on 03/13/2007 4:19:13 PM PDT by TommyDale (What will Rudy do in the War on Terror? Implement gun control on insurgents and Al Qaeda?)
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To: wagglebee

Once a person crosses that line in the sand and lives with it, everything on the other side of the line they cross is now their new norm. It is done.

It has to be hard to turn back and hard to forget. No wonder that it impacts their life, even if they have done their best to forget and are repulsed by their decision.


11 posted on 03/13/2007 4:27:27 PM PDT by dforest (Liberals love crisis, create crisis and then dwell on them.)
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To: wagglebee
This is a totally invalid use of the cause and effect argument..

The argument should read that victims of child abuse or spousal abuse, alcoholism, etc, are far more likely to get an abortion..
Just as they are more likely to commit abusive acts themselves..

Their entire experience has already been one of cheapening the value of life.
The very act of conception was probably an abusive and repugnant incident and, by extension, so too would the birth be unwanted and resented..
Why stop at abortion ?

The researchers obviously failed to control for personal bias..

12 posted on 03/13/2007 4:41:49 PM PDT by Drammach ("If you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." -- Benjamin Franklin)
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To: wagglebee

Makes sense - anyone who can bring themselves to murder an innocent baby (even if not born yet), certainly shouldn't find it difficult to beat one, or otherwise neglect one who HAS been born.


13 posted on 03/13/2007 4:51:34 PM PDT by TheBattman (I've got TWO QUESTIONS for you....)
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To: wagglebee
Priscilla Coleman, a professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University and lead author of the study, suggested that the link between abortion and child abuse may be influenced by a number of key factors, including unresolved grief, having felt pressured into an unwanted abortion, and disruption in maternal bonding with subsequently born children. How about "certifying a license to murder children goes in line with a certifying to abuse them" wicked rationalizing clinic mengele cursed generation
14 posted on 03/13/2007 4:53:19 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Condemn me, make me naked and kill me, or be silent for ever on my gun ownership and law enforcement)
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To: wagglebee
Priscilla Coleman, a professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University and lead author of the study, suggested that the link between abortion and child abuse may be influenced by a number of key factors, including unresolved grief, having felt pressured into an unwanted abortion, and disruption in maternal bonding with subsequently born children.

How about "certifying a license to murder children goes in line with a certifying to abuse them"

wicked rationalizing clinic mengele cursed generation

15 posted on 03/13/2007 4:54:58 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Condemn me, make me naked and kill me, or be silent for ever on my gun ownership and law enforcement)
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To: Drammach

The argument should read that victims of child abuse or spousal abuse, alcoholism, etc, are far more likely to get an abortion..
Just as they are more likely to commit abusive acts themselves..


The article points out that women who were abused and also had an abortion were more likely to abuse their children than women who were abused and didn't have an abortion.


16 posted on 03/13/2007 4:57:11 PM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Duncan Hunter: pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-border control, pro-family)
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To: wagglebee

Abortion is the ultimate child abuse. But it's no surprise that someone who would kill one of her own offspring, wouldn't think twice about abusing the rest.


17 posted on 03/13/2007 5:07:49 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: wagglebee

Gosh, I'm just so surprised. < /s> After all, when the feminazis were campaigning for abortion rights, their mantra was "every child a wanted child." That is, if we let women kill the kids they didn't want, they'd be sure to treat the surviving children well and the incidence of child abuse and neglect would be lowered. Somehow it didn't quite work out that way, did it?


18 posted on 03/13/2007 5:45:36 PM PDT by Fairview ( Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.)
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To: Jeff Head
Many in our present society consider life to be cheap.

If the baby is unwanted, they kill it or have it killed.

Then, if they have any kids at all, they're sent to public school to be propagandized-(for well over 40 years) in deviant forms of sexuality & told they have no importance as they are simply evolved lifeforms.

No wonder many of our youngsters are shallow, feel inferior and/or become sociopaths.

They are not told how wonderfully they were created and how unique and special they are.

Life is cheap to them.

19 posted on 03/13/2007 6:25:24 PM PDT by Guenevere (Duncan Hunter for President, 2008!!)
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To: wagglebee

the first step to have either the abortion or to abuse a child is to have the mindset that children are inconvenient burdens that do nothing but mess up the lives of women and "hold them back"

Unfortunately this is a mindset that is shared by millions of Americans whether they have abortions or not - abuse kids or not.

When children are valued again - when their true worthiness is restored to the pedestal where it belongs...that will help.

Until then we're going to keep reading painfully obvious articles like this one.


20 posted on 03/13/2007 6:30:11 PM PDT by Scotswife
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