Abortion and Pregnant Adolescents

Abstract

Statistics indicate that the incidence of pregnancy termination through abortion is on the rise among adolescents. This trend is particularly disturbing because many teenagers opting for an abortion disclose that they engaged in unprotected sexual activities. Despite the ostensible willingness of teenagers to rely upon abortion as a method of birth control, evidence suggests that the procedure may have enduring negative repercussions. Previewing, which focuses the adolescent on predicting the likely consequences of her behavior, may be a beneficial therapeutic intervention in these cases. During short-term psychotherapy, previewing may help teenagers anticipate the likely outcome of abortion and thus modify behavior patterns so that pregnancy and abortion may be avoided.