Touchstone 2.2: Create an Annotated Bibliography

contraceptive use. Social science research, 41(1), 160-169.

III. Body Paragraph

A. First Point: attitudes regarding abortion have been changing because of varying beliefs about when life is considered to start and the reasons that could warrant abortion to be morally acceptable Comment by Skelton: How do these points go together?

B. Second Point: With social alienation and the lack of family support, most pregnant teens usually seek abortion on their own and such an experience often remains to be part of their life

Source: Igba, D. I., Igba, C. E., Nwafor, C. E., Elom, C., & Mgboro, C. (2018). Teenage Pregnancy and Girl-Child Education. International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences, 13(3), 237-248.

IV. Body Paragraph Comment by Skelton: This will make a good paragraph

A. First Point: the emergence of PTSD symptoms like flashbacks to the abortion experience and dreams generally present traumatic issues impacting the teenage child’s mental state

B. Second Point: The rising issues of PTSD amongst the teen moms after their abortion also results to difficulty to sleep and general dissatisfaction especially in the presence of children

C. Source: Fergusson, Horwood, & Boden, (2013)

V. Body Paragraph Comment by Skelton: Good paragraph

A. First Point: Depressive disorders impact the personality and behaviors of most teenagers who have underwent abortion

B. Second Point: teens are missing the financial and emotional support that could drive towards their acceptance of the abortion process to ensure they properly move on from the ordeal

C. Source: Adamczyk, (2009)

VI. Conclusion

Restate thesis: With moral convictions against abortion, Christian Moms are subject to face psychological challenges because the society and the church are often condemning affairs before marriage

Summarize key points:

i) Teenage pregnancies have been in the rise in various societies and is mostly associated with peer pressure and limited understanding of contraceptives

ii) By undergoing teenage abortions, most individuals often face psychological and physical harms due to the experience

iii) Abortion should be a morally acceptable thing because it is particularly a disruption of the teen life and growth in school

Comment by Skelton: You needed to outline 7 paragraphs

Psychological Effects of Abortion

Shekeria Wright

Ashworth College

February 6, 2021

Psychological Effects of Abortion on Teenage Christians

Introduction

The existing psychological effects that arise due to abortion have been subject to scientific investigation and international debate for decades. In this case, pregnancy usually culminates as an event in a young woman’s life that advances growth into adulthood. The process facilitates the eventual establishment of gender identity and otherwise, brings forth the alteration of an individual’s life irreversibly. Pregnancy can evoke numerous psychological challenges that are usually dependent on underlying predisposition and personality aspects. Teenage pregnancies have been in the rise with the U.S Department of Health Services reporting over 250, 000 babies born to teenagers in the year 2015. Particularly, teenage pregnancy brings about undesirable changes on the course of a young mom’s life, thus the rationale behind rising instances of teenage abortions. With moral convictions against abortion, teenage Christian moms are subject to face psychological challenges especially with the society and church often condemning the affair and their alienation by friends.

According to the research by Adamczyk (2009), Christianity does not advocate for abortion tendencies because they perceive the act as murder. The data through the research attributes to low abortion rates with more teen births experienced amongst Christian faithful societies. Available data presented regarding abortion suggest that the involvement in abortion usually increases the susceptibility of a mom to mental health issues by about 81 per cent. Upon the undertaking of abortion, most of the teenage and Christian women are said to often experience psychological reactions entailing guilt feelings, sleep disturbance, depression, nervous symptoms, and regrets (Robinson, Stirling, and Barendse, 2021).

Teenage Abortions & Psychological Problems

The issues of abortion and religion are quite interconnected under political and social constructs in any society. Most religions like Christianity and Islam express doctrinal disapproval of the use of abortion. According to Medoff (2012), the practice of abortion has always brought about major moral concerns and objections in religious communities. Religious parents would rather see their teenage daughter of 15 years conceive rather than indulge in promoting abortion, which is considered a sin and otherwise murder. By this, teenagers born to parents with such religious and moral convictions against abortion are usually subject to alienation by their family. Some of the pregnant teens often experience name-calling and insults especially when they speak of their consideration of abortion. However, under the current modern society, it is evident that religious convictions and attitudes about abortion are shifting from “pro-life” to “pro-choice.”

Particularly, the emerging attitudes regarding abortion have been changing because of varying beliefs about when life is considered to start and the reasons that could warrant abortion to be morally acceptable. By this, most of the families and teenagers choosing to facilitate the undertaking of abortion informs on their moral and religious attributes and beliefs. Teenage pregnancies to begin with is quite tasking with the affected individual usually required to drop out of school and other social activities due to embarrassment and fear (Igba et al. 2018). If the parents are not supportive of the child, there is high possibility that the teenager would be experiencing stress, depression, and other psychological challenges. With social alienation and the lack of family support, most pregnant teens usually seek abortion on their own and such an experience often remains to be part of their life. In this sense, research indicates that after abortion most women experience PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) due to increasing negative emotions relating with the moral implications of losing a child especially with existing Christian convictions.

It is most often that an individual especially teenagers would feel relief and positive emotions after the abortion. However, the emergence of PTSD symptoms like flashbacks to the abortion experience and dreams generally present traumatic issues impacting the teenage child’s mental state. As indicated through the research by Robinson et al. (2021), if such teenagers lack the necessary counseling and support from their family and friends, they are highly at the risk of developing mental disorders due to stress and depression. The rising issues of PTSD amongst the teen moms after their abortion also results to difficulty to sleep and general dissatisfaction especially in the presence of children. The rising stress and depression tendencies usually go unnoticed for quite some time especially if the abortion was carried out during early stages of pregnancy. With the withdrawal and depressive tendencies, Fergusson and Boden (2013) notes that teenagers’ involved in abortion often resort to drug abuse, alcohol, and even violence.

Depressive disorders as indicated by the APA (American Psychiatric Association) generally impact the personality and behaviors of most teenagers who have underwent abortion. According to Medoff (2012), most of these teenagers are unable to form good relationships with their peers, are unable to relate with their parents, nor even establish the necessary state of mind needed for excellence in their education. Most of these teens are missing the financial and emotional support that could drive towards their acceptance of the abortion process to ensure they properly move on from the ordeal. The absence of counseling prompts rise in depressive and mood disorders that can substantially drive towards aggression, violence, and even suicidal behaviors. As indicated by Adamczyk (2009), women who ended their first pregnancy are subject to experience substance abuse more than women who had carried their first term pregnancy. By this fact, it is quite clear that teenage abortion could be significant but it always requires familial support to ensure the pregnant teenagers receive the needed counseling and support to eradicate on depression and other psychological disorders.

Conclusion

Teenage pregnancies have been in the rise in various societies. This notion is mainly attributable to peer pressure and the limited understanding of how contraceptives would limit chances of unnecessary pregnancies. In this sense, the involvement by teenagers in various abortion attempts has necessarily put most in both physical and psychological harm especially with most religions like Christian faithful condemning the act to being in violation of Gods’ commands. The various psychological issues that often arise are inclusive of depression, stress, PTSD, and mood disorders that result in sleep difficulties and relationship issues. Abortion amongst teenagers is an entirely moral and acceptable aspect considering the child in question won’t be able to become a reliable mom without the essential completion of her education. As such, it is quite evident that abortion should always be a pro-choice element with teenagers requiring explicit counseling and family support to ensure the mitigation of psychological issues that could manifest to be mental problems like depression and PTSD.

References

Adamczyk, A. (2009). Understanding the effects of personal and school religiosity on the

decision to abort a premarital pregnancy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 50(2), 180-195.

Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Boden, J. M. (2013). Does abortion reduce the mental

health risks of unwanted or unintended pregnancy? A re-appraisal of the evidence. Australian & New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 47(9), 819-827.

Igba, D. I., Igba, C. E., Nwafor, C. E., Elom, C., & Mgboro, C. (2018). Teenage Pregnancy and

Girl-Child Education. International Journal of Applied Environmental Sciences, 13(3), 237-248.

Medoff, M. H. (2012). Restrictive abortion laws, antiabortion attitudes and women’s

contraceptive use. Social science research, 41(1), 160-169.

Robinson, J., Stirling, N., & Barendse, S. (2021). Priceless perspectives: Equipping students to

think critically about the abortion discourse. In Innovating Christian Education Research (pp. 377-393). Springer, Singapore.

Reflection Questions

2. Learning to conduct research is important because it is a skill you will use both in academia and in your professional life. It improves critical thinking and empowers you to find information for yourself. Consider the process of researching as a whole. What was the most challenging aspect of the process for you? (2-3 sentences)

The most challenging was making sure not to interject my personal opinions when I wrote about this topic. I also kept an open mind about my research findings as well. Comment by Skelton: Good response

3. The working thesis statement is a proposed answer to your research question. It should clearly identify a debatable topic and take a position on one side of that topic. Analyze the effectiveness of your working thesis statement. (3-4 sentences)

My topic is a sensitive topic for many and normally not discussed publicly; however, it is a topic that will be had at some point in a women’s life regardless of her age, and religion beliefs. Women should be educated of all aspects of this topic for it is a type of birth control for some women. Comment by Skelton: Good work

4. A detailed outline is an effective tool for laying out the progression of an argument. It allows you to consider the arrangement and organization of your ideas, as well as choose places to incorporate outside source materials. Review your detailed outline and summarize the argument you've presented. (3-4 sentences)

Abortion is a form of birth control and may be an option for teenage girls and women at any age. Yes, there are psychological ramifications if one chooses to terminate one’s pregnancy. On the other hand, with a strong support whether from family or on the professional level, young girls, and women can overcome the guilt and shame associated with having an abortion. Comment by Skelton: This was not made clear in your outline. Make sure it is made clear in your essay

5. You will use the same topic on three of the remaining Touchstones in this course. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you? What are specific questions you might have as you go deeper into the research process? (2-3 sentences)

At this time I do not have any suggestions regarding feedback. I wrote about this topic for it is a topic I am experienced in and I wanted to challenge myself by writing about it for a grade. Comment by Skelton: Please see my notes throughout.