Abortion Linked to Higher Rates of Domestic Violence

New Research
A recent report, published in the journal Public Health on Mar. 24. 2009, reveals that abortion leads to domestic violence and other difficulties.
The study, headed by Prof. Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University, was based on a survey of low-income women undertaken at various hospitals around the country. The women involved had all become pregnant within 18 months of delivering a child and either aborted the second pregnancy or carried to term. Participants were asked about drug and alcohol abuse, their relationship with the child's father and difficulties raising their first child.

The study found that women who felt they could not rely on their partner to help in caring for the child were more likely to have an abortion. They also found that women who had undergone an abortion were over three times more likely to report heavy alcohol use and twice as likely to report cigarette smoking.
When a woman gets an abortion, the couple is more than twice as likely to argue when discussing future children, and nearly three times as likely to experience domestic violence, compared with women who carry the pregnancy to term and raise the child.
The study said that abortion within a current relationship causes 116 percent more arguing when discussing future children, and 196 percent more domestic violence.
Men whose current partners had an abortion were more likely to report jealousy (96% greater risk) and conflict about drugs (385 percent greater risk).