Born Unwanted, 35 Years Later
The Prague Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3972843 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Henry P David (Transnational Family Research Institute, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 27 |
| Pages | 181-190 |
| Publication date | 2006-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Reproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1016/s0968-8080(06)27219-7 |
| PMID | 16713893 |
| OpenAlex | W2014442510 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 15 |
| References cited | 12 |
A long-held belief among mental health practitioners is that being born unwanted carries a risk of negative psychosocial development and poor mental health in adulthood. The Prague Study was designed to test this hypothesis. It followed the development and mental well-being of 220 children (now adults) born in 1961-63 in Prague to women twice denied abortion for the same unwanted pregnancy. The children were individually pair-matched at about age nine with 220 children born from accepted pregnancies when no abortion had been requested. This article brings together in one place the theoretical assumptions and hypotheses, the criteria for selecting the study participants and major findings from five follow-up waves conducted among the children around the ages of 9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-31 and 32-35 years, plus a sub-study of married unwanted pregnancy subjects and accepted pregnancy controls at ages 26-28. To control for potential confounding factors in data interpretation, all siblings of all subjects were included in the last two waves. It was found that differences in psychosocial development widened over time but lessened at around age 30. All the differences consistently disfavoured the unwanted pregnancy subjects, especially only children (no siblings). They became psychiatric patients (especially in-patients) more frequently than the accepted pregnancy controls and also more often than their siblings. The overall findings suggest that, in the aggregate, denial of abortion for unwanted pregnancy entails an increased risk for negative psychosocial development and mental well-being in adulthood
Abortion · Denial · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Family planning · Mental health · Population · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Unwanted Pregnancy · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Medicine · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Contraception
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Outcomes for Children and Families Following Unplanned Pregnancy
The effects of preconception desires and intentions on pregnancy wantedness
The long-term effects of mistimed pregnancy on children’s education and employment
Preventing Pregnancy in High School Students
Denying Abortions Endangers Women’s Mental and Physical Health
Pregnancy intendedness, maternal–fetal bonding, and postnatal maternal–infant bonding
Born unwanted
Long-term effects of unintended pregnancy on children
Addressing Japan's Fertility Decline
L'avortement dans le monde. État des lieux des législations, mesures, tendances et conséquences
Identifying interaction effects using random fertility shocks
Abortion Policy and Vulnerable Women in the United States
| Unique citing works | 15 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,75 |
| Citation span | 2006 - 2024 (19) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 15 |