Anxiety, Depression and Self-Efficacy Levels of Women Undergoing First Trimester Abortion

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between anxiety, depression, perceived self-efficacy and biographical variables, before and after the termination of a first trimester pregnancy. Seventy-six participants were recruited from three health facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. Scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and a Self-Efficacy Scale revealed that high levels of state-anxiety and moderate levels of depression were experienced before abortion. Levels of anxiety and depression generally decreased significantly within a three-week period after the abortion. High self-efficacy was related to lowerlevels of anxiety and depression. Higher levels of education and self-efficacy and low levels of depression, trait-anxiety and gestational age were significantly related to healthy short-term adjustment. It was shown that pre-abortion depression and self-efficacy scores had the power to predict post-abortion depression.